Duggan (maybe born 1852) ??? badly in need of a clean up and estimate of date

[Gadget]

My only concern is his left hand. It doesn't seem to have the deformities that are seen in the other photo.

Nice one, Carol

[Treetotal]

Thanks G..... yes I agree with you on that one....facially there is a similarity but the hand can't be ignored.
Carol

[Aussielass]

Hi Carol and Gadget,

Thanks for your observations.  Yes, I do agree about the broken left hand, not showing up clearly (he fell off a haystack I've just found out) and it was never properly set/fixed  .....  I feel that the photo is a bit of a white out around the hand region.  Whilst there doesn't appear to be any deformity, he is holding on to his arm and it may be disguising the obvious deformity that shows when his arm/hand is swinging freely.  Would it be possible to remove his beard on the 2nd photo for a clearer comparison?
Just one other question, I'm probably asking to many, and I do appreciate your help.  What would the approx. date be on the torso photo?  There was nothing printed on the back of it.

I guess I want it to be Thomas, and am looking for reasons for it to be him 

Thanks again, Aussielass

[Ian Nelson]

Beard removed ... I didn't compare the chin lines though

[Aussielass]

Beard removed ... I didn't compare the chin lines though

Thanks Ian, it helps to compare the two.  Very similar, and the photos came from a collection where I believe they could only be one of three males.  One born in 1852, (I think the type of photo and clothing indicates the right time frame for the person in the photo) and the other two born in 1883 and 1887, sons of the person in question. 

Kind Regards,  Aussielass 

[McGroger]

A beardless comparison.

Note the shape of his head, Aussielass - with or without the beard you can see that he has broad cheeks and chin so that the sides of his face are pretty much parallel (rather than v-shaped or rounded like many people). It might be worth looking at his face shape in the old age photo to see if it is the same. Also the hair and hairstyle look the same. To my mind there's little doubt it's the same person.

Peter

[Aussielass]

A beardless comparison.

Note the shape of his head, Aussielass - with or without the beard you can see that he has broad cheeks and chin so that the sides of his face are pretty much parallel (rather than v-shaped or rounded like many people). It might be worth looking at his face shape in the old age photo to see if it is the same. Also the hair and hairstyle look the same. To my mind there's little doubt it's the same person.

Peter

Wow Peter, that's great, I think you have nailed it, both with your visual comparison and constructive notes.  His disfigured left hand which is clasping his right arm shows more of the two fingers that weren't disfigured.  The middle and pointer finger that are broken are not as clearly displayed.  Thank you so much I have checked his old age photo for his face shape.  Unfortunately it's not a very good photo, but good enough to see the similarity in face shape, even though his cheeks are a bit sunken.   Brilliant detective work Peter, you, together with all the other comments and restorations from the helpful people on this site, have helped me solve and fill a gap that has been missing.  I can now positively identify two photos that were previously an "unknown Duggan"

Kind Regards, Aussielass   

[McGroger]

Hello, again, AL.

Just remembered you were after a rough date for the bearded photo. I think it is probably within five years of the other photo, say the mid-1870s when beards and wide lapels were in vogue.

Peter

[chlo]

could add the same beard onto the man with no beard as removing the beard is guess work really on the shape of his chin.