October 3, 2015

Four 1880s Brattleboro cadets 

By C.E. Ryan

1880s cadet buddies. Caleb L. and John C. Howe. Brattleboro. Cabinet Card. Private Collection.

These four teens from Brattleboro, Vermont were most likely cadets, maybe in a marching band?

Photographer Caleb Howe chose to take this picture horizontally, preferring to catch the boys in close-up. One of them is smiling and the others seem comfortable in front of the camera.

The card has yellowed with the passing of time.

Back of card.

Caleb Howe & Son. Back of card.

Photographer: Caleb Lysander Howe & Son (John C. Howe). Brattleboro. Vermont.

Caleb Lysander Howe (1811-1895) was a highly respected photographer in his home state of Vermont. He began his craft on the road in the late 1840s. During the Civil War he photographed a great number of soldiers who queued at his studio door for a chance to get their portrait taken. He also photographed Union General John W. Phelps on a card with the similar backing.

Howe’s son joined him in the business in the early 1880s. Since his initials appear on that cabinet card as well as the one I have I believe these were made a couple of decades after the war, by the end of the general’s life who passed in 1885.

Caleb Howe was also a singer and musician. There is a page dedicated to his life that is worth a look. There you can see the John W Phelps card.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Cabinet Cards, Military, Teens

October 2, 2015

This one’s just for us

By C.E. Ryan
The drinking duo. RPPC. Private Collection.

This 1910s-1920s drinking duo. RPPC. Private Collection.

There is closeness between these two. The worker on the right still has the cap on his beer, and his expression…He looks tired or buzzed or both, but still he seems self aware and smiling in that ‘you know it’ sort of way.  The other one is in a suit, chugging the (whiskey?) bottle hard and holding a pipe with a free hand…There is a ‘devil may care’ attitude with this handsome duo, a subtle vibe of rebelliousness!

I also love the way the gent on the right is wearing his checkered cap sideways on his head, very street mutt. ;) He must have been a factory or farm worker still wearing his denim shirt and pants after a long day of work.

The back of this RPPC is full of scribbled names, some paired up. I cannot make sense of it. Some names are repeated twice. An Agnes Worter is mentioned as well as a Ruffus Worter and a Winslow. On the actual picture I edited out a B on top of each sitter’s head – brothers? They most definitely were, in blood or not!

chug-back

RPPC: NOKO 1907-1920s

16 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Gay Interest, Groups, RPPCs

September 30, 2015

Up Close

By C.E. Ryan
Snapshot. Private Collection.

1910s-20s snapshot. Private Collection.

This young man looks quite happy in his straw boater and bowtie. Isn’t his big smile infectious? This photograph is postcard size but a bit narrower. An early candid taken outdoors in the sunlight, perhaps a ‘selfie’? :) Of the period there aren’t too many informal pictures of people taken so close to the face.

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Gentlemen, Others

September 29, 2015

All cozy and bundled up for winter

By C.E. Ryan

Bundled up on a tintype. Private Collection.

Bundled up on a tintype. Private Collection.

An affectionate trio posing all bundled up with their overcoats, a knitted fringed scarf and a blanket. Brr! The two in front with their pork pie hat on look like they may have been brothers, the older one with the mustache. I like that the third pal in cap is resting his hands on the other two’s shoulders. There’s a good vibe out of this photograph.

(That scarf reminds me of Hogwarts ha ha)

This tintype is a 6th plate yet is taller than average. It measures 2.5″ by 4″.

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Groups, Tintypes

September 28, 2015

Cute young fellow

By C.E. Ryan
Young hatted man. Tintype. Private Collection.

Young hatted man. 1/6th plate tintype. Private Collection.

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a lot of 12 1/6th plate tintypes I acquired for $20 shipping included. This made my day! This cute teen posing for his portrait was part of the lot. He’s not wearing a collar or coat, his shirt sleeves rolled up. He looks unfazed, a bit bored or maybe just a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera. There’s no visible backdrop either.

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Teens, Tintypes