The Balcarek Family

[Neale1961]

I think this was Wilhelm's father but the photo was taken well before Wilhelm was born - which would mean that Pawel had at least 3 children

Elliven, this is exactly what I have been thinking, while following this thread, and your post on the other forum.
I suspect this photo is from early in the marriage. The children are quite close in age. They could be the first born children. If it is possible to find baptisms for their children, it might give you a better fix on the date.

[Elliven]

The photo appeared in an article about Wilhelm - their yougest child - who was killed in WW2 and who is not really relevant to the picture.  Everyone assumes he was the younger child in the photo and it is known that he had an older sister.  But if it could be proved  that he had two or more older siblings then the discrepancy over fashion could be explained and the date of the photo could be moved back.  If Wilhelm is in the picture it would have to have been taken after February 1915 but before November 1915 when Pawel was killed.  General opinion is that the photo dates to about 1905 - 10 years before Wilhelm was born!

[Elliven]

Pawel was described as a muffelmacher - but what exactly is a muffelmacher/muffle maker?

[davecapps]

There are two links in reply 52 describing Muffelmacher

[Elliven]

Thank you.  I don't know how I missed that!