Are these the same man Charles Smith ?

[goldie61]

These are supposedly the same man, Charles Smith.
He was born in 1863 in London.

The photograph by H J Thorn has ‘343 Kentish Town Road’ on the back.
According to www.photolondon.org, H J Thorn was at that address between 1878 and 1879. A very short window of time. That would make Charles 16 at the most.
Is he really only 16 years old in this photo?
By the 1881 Census, aged 18, he is a railway clerk.
Perhaps he is wearing some sort of railway clerk uniform in this photo?

The one of the older man was taken about 1906, so he would be about 43 by then.
That looks about right I think. The baby is not his. I have all his children’s births, and all the Censuses, and his youngest child was born in 1896. Nor is it a grandchild.

What do Rootschatters think?

[Davedrave]

It is a bit difficult to tell because the later photo is so small but I must say that I do see a similarity in the faces. As for the age in the first one, he does look more than 16’ish but I do recall some boys from my senior school days who looked surprisingly old for their chronological age. Also the physical imperfections in the photo itself possibly contribute to making the subject look more aged.

Dave

[Mike in Cumbria]

I think there's a strong possibility that these are the same man, if the dates match up.

[Gadget]

It could well be  but the second photo is not clear enough to be sure. 

[mijath]

I would say it almost certainly is, or less likely, a close relative with very similar appearance.

[Ruskie]

I’m going to chip in on this one too (sorry Goldie) .... 

I think it could well be the same person due to the arch of the eyebrows, face shape, nose length and shape (nostrils visible), and shape of the ears.

I think he looks older than 16 but I agree with Dave - he might have had a mature look. 

[Treetotal]

I agree that there is a strong likeness, but a clearer picture of the older man would help to confirm.
Carol

[Lily M]

They’re both wearing similar rings on their left hand. 
It’s not clear.  Do you think the older man is wearing spectacles?  The young man appears to have spectacles on his lap.

[Flattybasher9]

If you darken the pictures using contrast, the ears are different, so my personal opinion is NO. They are NOT the same person.

Malky