May 9, 2015

1922 Mr. Pappas from Lewiston, Maine.

By C.E. Ryan

RPPC. 1922 (digitally erased date at bottom). Private Collection.

RPPC. 1922 (digitally erased date at bottom). Private Collection.

Roaring Twenties gentleman. On this photo I like the trousers’ pocket flap peeking from below the waistcoat. This gentleman is rocking his suit and hat, isn’t he? I like the classic 20’s look very much…but if you’re a regular reader of my blog you already knew that.

And the man was a shoe craftsman. A coincidence after the cut.

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May 8, 2015

Steamer train 4423 crew

By C.E. Ryan
RPPC. Private Collection

RPPC. Private Collection

One of the workers is IDed on the back, the one to the left with the checkered cap and sunglasses (!): Pete Dobrzynski. He was the son of Polish immigrants, born in New York circa 1894. He had a wife, Sophie, and a daughter, Lavina (cute name). This photo is an AZO from between 1918-1930. I think this was taken circa 1920.

I love the composition with the front of the steamer locomotive in the background. While I love photos of dapper gents of the era in studio settings, I also love photos like this, of groups of workers posing together.

Larger detail.

Larger detail.

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May 7, 2015

The French Larcenist

By C.E. Ryan

Mugshot. Private Collection.

1927 Mugshot. Private Collection.

This Frenchman got caught for ‘larceny by truck’ in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was a salesman who -if I understand this right- tried to flee by truck without giving back the change on a transaction? If so I hope it was an amount significant enough to risk the trouble of getting caught. And they took his mugshot with his hat still on!

Back of mugshot

Back of mugshot

Name: Thomas E. Marsh

Crime: Larceny by truck (short change)

Age: 28 Height: 5 ft. 6 3/4 in. Weight: 133 lbs

Hair: Light Brown Eyes: Light Blue Build: Slender

Complexion: Light. Mustache: — (don’t you love it that ‘mustache’ is an actual option?)

Born: France Nationality: French Occupation: Salesman

Arrested: 1-13-27 Officer: […] Davis

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May 7, 2015

When life is a beautiful day

By C.E. Ryan
1/6th plate. Private Collection.

Circa 1890s-1900. 1/6th plate. Private Collection.

These romantic four got their picture taken on rocks in the outdoors. There’s such a positive, happy vibe to them. Though they are in nature it looks like they may have been at a city park, or at least near civilisation. They’re dressed city-like with bowties for the gents and white dresses for the ladies. My guess is they attended a happy semi-formal occasion and a photographer was hired to take pictures of the attendees.

I like seeing pictures of gents with their hat tilted far back. The one with the bowler looks like he’s cracking up about something. I love it when everyone smiles on tintypes. The ladies are gorgeous too. The guys are probably feeling lucky!

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

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May 6, 2015

Hello, Fauxhawk!

By C.E. Ryan
Mr. Faux Hawk tintype. Private Collection.

Mr. Fauxhawk tintype. Private Collection.

Well, look at Mr. Handsome here with the goatee and hair style a good hundred years ahead of its time!  He seems to have had the confident attitude to match his individual style. And the rose tinted cheeks soften up the whole look  some, don’t they?

Random wiki factoid: the fauxhawk is known in the Hoxton and Shoreditch districts of London as the “Hoxton fin”.

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