Found Snapshots

VJ Day Celebration at Sea

2013-08-07T15:21:00.003-07:00

VJ Day Celebration at Sea

I found this snapshot in a swap meet in Hollywood. It is a photo taken during a Victory over Japan (VJ) Day Celebration on board a Navy ship at sea. The Photograph has some writing on the back. It says:

August 45 At Sea

V-J Day Celebration

on deck

#5-33

Maybe the #5-33 is an indicator or index number used to identify the photographer, or the ship. If anyone knows, please share in the comments below.

It would be great to know what ship this was. From that, we might be able to tell who these brave troops on board are.

My Uncle Angelo (my Fathers brother) joined the Navy at the onset of World War 2. (The stories I remember is that he was only 16, and lied about his age to enlist.) Could he be on this boat? Or maybe your uncle, or grandfather?

Whoever is on this ship, they are happy here. Celebrating the end of WWII. Soon to be headed home. 68 years after it was taken, this photograph is now available for all to see.

Follow me on twitter
If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
If you are into Exotic cars, Check out this page.
Check out my photography Blog
Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

S.G. + Ruby Beatrice Chandler

2013-07-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

S.G. + Ruby Beatrice Chandler

This vintage photograph has no date on it. I would guess it is from the late 1800's. The detail leads me to believe this is a contact print. Most likely from a glass plate. Portraits of children were very popular at the time as a quick Google search will show.

*As a side note, if you like children photographs from the late 1800's might a suggest a great book of the Photography of Lewis Carroll (the Author of Alice in Wonderland) called "Dreaming in Pictures"

Although the original owners of this Vintage Photograph did not put a date on the back, they did leave other information. The Back of the Photograph reads:

S.G. Chandler
Ruby Beatrice Chandler
Children of Steve
+ Eva Chandler
Aunt + Uncle of
Ruby Chandler Dale

Uncle Ed 1940

2013-06-27T16:18:00.002-07:00

Uncle Ed 1940

This is a great vintage photograph of an old man sitting by a tree. The back of the photo reads:

Uncle Ed Ramsey Reunion 1940.

The photo also features a stamp on its back from the developer

Quality Prints

Perfect Film Service

La Crosse Wisconsin

I would guess then that this picture was taken somewhere near La Crosse Wi.

I Found Nazi's in Hollywood

2013-06-05T14:58:00.001-07:00

German Soldiers WW2

I found this vintage photograph at the Hollywood Swap Meet. I was going to post it last week for Memorial day. However, I came upon a startling revelation as I was researching the pic to find more information.

Some photographs have details about the photograph written on the back. This did not. It did have the name of the paper manufacturer: Gevaert Ridax. I found that this paper is Belgium in origins, and was used by the Axis powers more then the Allies. (more info on that here).

The guy on the far right appears to have the German Eagle on his right chest (and upon closer examination, so do the other guys that have their right chest visible). That patch can be seen on this page. The guy to the left of him seems to have a Lance Corporal (as per this page) patch on his left arm. All of these guys seem to be wearing the "Army Panzer Overseas Cap" seen here.

So it appears that this fun loving group of guys are Nazi's. I was a bit shocked at the revelation. My Grandfather served in WW2. He was shot down over France, and spent a year fighting with the French Underground before being captured by the Germans. He spent another year in a German POW camp, before US Troops liberated the camp. He then spent another year in a Red Cross re-nourishment camp. Needless to say, I never thought of Nazi Soldiers smiling or laughing with their friends. Nazi's, in my mind, were the robotic goose-stepping villains. The nameless, faceless, soulless monsters of Hollywood movies. The sadistic bad guy.

This Vintage Photograph reminded me. The fighting man, the soldier, is usually the poor average Joe. Confused by the media, and propaganda. Doing his "duty" to his country. Trying, against all odds, to stay alive, and make it home to his family.

Who or where these guys were, I have no idea. If they survived the war, I'll probably never know. If anyone recognizes any of these guys, or the place there are standing in front of, let us know in the comments.

Follow me on twitter
If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
If you are into Exotic cars, Check out this page.
Check out my photography Blog
Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

San Francisco Bay 1938

2013-05-25T19:07:00.003-07:00

San Francisco Bay 1938

Memorial Day is a day to honor those who have died in service to their country. In the history of civilization, Wars are only ever briefly interrupted by short periods of peace. Those times are usually reserved to build up ones team for the next fight.

This photo was taken in 1938 (3 years before Pearl Harbor). It shows what appears to me to be a lot of Navy Ships. (there are some great photographs of the USS Astoria over here, and one of them from 1938 shows Alcatraz Penitentiary. I wonder if it could have been taken during this exercise)

The back of the photograph reads:

"on the left is San Francisco

with goat island in the center

the bridge is the famous bay bridge"

The "Goat Island" mentioned in the photograph is Yerba Buena Island (located between San Francisco and Oakland). The Island had it's name changed from Goat Island to Yerba Buena Island in 1931... 7 years before this photograph was taken.
The Photograph is from Acme Photo Service. A news Photo Service of the time. It is dated July 20th 1938.

On a side note, Actress Natalie Wood was born in San Francisco on July 20th 1938... on the left

Follow me on twitter
If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
If you are into Exotic cars, Check out this page.
Check out my photography Blog
Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

Happy (belated) Mothers Day!

2013-05-14T19:03:00.001-07:00

My Mom: April 1971

I know that this Blog is "Pre-1950 Photography", And my mom would kill me if she found out I put a pic of her up on a "Vintage" photo blog, but hey... My mom doesn't use the internet. Seriously, She has a computer, she won't even plug it in. On a good note, I also won't get in trouble for putting up a Happy Mothers Day blog 2 days late...

My Mother, Sister, and I (and a sexy nurse): 1975

The Photo above is dated April 1971. My Mother is 5 months pregnant with my sister in that photograph. At the time, our family lived in New Jersey, and I believe the dog's name was Brutus.

This next Photo was taken in May of 1975 when My Mother, sister, and me (and a sexy nurse that appears to be giving my Dad the eye...) were leaving the hospital after my birth.

Seriously though, what's up with that nurse?

Finally, I'm going to end this with a Photo taken last year of my Mother and me, from my iPad. So I guess there are no Vintage photos in this, but you get to see my Mom over 40 years.

Happy Mothers Day!

Seaside Park 1948

2013-05-02T17:40:00.003-07:00

Seaside Park August 1948

Well May has arrived. Summer is fast approaching. Children will be playing in the fields (Do they do that anymore?). This vintage photograph reminds me of my youth. The bikes piled up on the porch behind them... Looks like a day filled with youth full fun and folly.

I found this vintage photograph at a swap meet in Hollywood. I found it interesting because it is from Seaside Park. I was born in New Jersey, and there is a Seaside Park there. The thought that, like me, this photograph made that journey to Hollywood... and here we meet.

On the back, is hand written:

#11

Seaside Park

Aug. '48

I Bobbed My Hair

2013-04-20T15:32:00.001-07:00

I Bobbed My Hair

It is funny to think that 100 years ago people would send little notes with photos (like this Vintage Photograph) to friends in much the same way we might Instagram and Tweet. The main difference was the delay in the message getting there, and even longer delay in the reply. (although the way some of my friends answer e-mails, txts, etc... it may not be that long of a delay...)

The back of this photo says:
I don't know if
I told you I
had bobbed my
hair

(I believe the "99" on the image back is a price scrawled on recently by some swap meet vendor...)

I wonder who the message was for? Friends? Family? There is no date on this vintage photograph, but one can guess.
The "bobbed" haircut was generally considered unacceptable for respectable women in the USA. It did start to lose it's stigma, and gain popularity in the beginning of the 20th century. However, by the 1930's the style began to be abandoned.
His style of dress, (however) reminds me more of turn of the century style. (That being said, my wardrobe is more late 20th century, so he could just be as hopelessly out of fashion as I am.)
I would venture to say this vintage photograph is from the late teens.
Let me know if you have any ideas as to its origins.

I Bobbed My Hair (back)

Father and Son After WW2

2013-04-12T18:19:00.002-07:00

Duane and Corkey

This is a great Photograph. The back of it says:

Duane + Corkey

at the Spanish

Nite Club in the

Mtns

The man in the Photo is wearing a military Dress Uniform (you can see his ribbons on his chest). I am guessing this is shortly after WW2. (The cars in the background would all fit that time). Maybe Corkey will find this photo on this page...

Duane and Corkey Back

Women in Garden by Car

2013-04-05T14:08:00.003-07:00

Woman in Garden with a Car

Happy Friday everyone! (Unless it isn't Friday when you read this, then happy whatever day... or stop now and come back on Friday...). Anyway... This is a cool photograph I found. The woman appears to be standing in front of some sort of garden. (If anyone can identify what is growing, let us know in the comments.) I love how the car parked in the background is framed, and I am intrigued by the blown out portion above the car. (Lite leak? developing error?) I also would like to point out that there is a man sitting on the bench behind the tree on the right. What is he doing? Ahhh the unique world that reside inside every photograph. Enjoy!

If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog
Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

1951 Ford Accident

2013-03-30T02:01:00.004-07:00

1951 Ford Accident

I thought this photograph was cool. It appears to be a 1951 Ford that has had an accident. I usually only post pre 1950 photographs, but I liked this one. I wonder if that is the drivers shadow we see on the bottom left of the image? Is he taking this picture?

If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog
Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

Sitting On The Porch - 1920

2013-03-26T15:27:00.001-07:00

Sitting on the Porch

I found this Vintage Photograph recently. It was blown out a bit on the left side, (looks like the camera door had a leak, or wasn't shut properly.) and I have tried to adjust it a bit in photoshop. I am guessing this photo is from the 1920's. There seems to be a power line going to the house, and in the 1920's this was becoming common place in the US. The car in the back is from the teens, but it looks pretty worn in.
I find this picture interesting because the large gentleman on the left appears to be African American. This picture looks like it was taken during the height of segregation, but this gentleman is in a prominent position in this photo with a white family. It is easy to miss the significance of this today, when we take pictures of our lunch with our cell phones. Back when this photograph was taken, film was expensive, and so was processing and printing. People tended to be a bit more picky with their subject matter. This photo was obviously important to somebody. Was this photograph his? Who are these people to him, and who is he to them?
Of course I have no idea what the scenario really was. If anyone out there has ideas, feel free to add them in the comments below.

If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog
Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

Group Photo

2013-03-17T12:39:00.001-07:00

Group Photo - Late 40's

I want to say this is a family photo. A group of relatives that came out to see the new baby in the family. It seems to me that this is the late 1940's in California. I could be wrong. I found this photo at a swap meet in Hollywood, and the trees and hills in the background look like California. This vintage photograph had no writing on it, so I can't say for sure who, when or where, but it is fun to speculate.
Let me know what you think in the comments below.

If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog
Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

Baby in a Bowl: 1894

2013-03-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

Baby in a Bowl: 1894

This Vintage Photograph really knocked me out. The detail is so rich. The absurdity of a baby in a bowl is such a delight. (Although in 1894 that was probably how you bathed infants, and this wasn't nearly as absurd...)

The back of the photograph has had written notes that read:

Archer George Gregory

Age one year on the 28

of January 1894

Lucy Thorne

My Guess is that the child in the photo is Archer, and the photographer was Lucy? I could be wrong. I am also guessing that the "H" looking thing at the end of the year is a "4" but again, I could be wrong. Let me know what you think in the comments.

If you like Wine, check out my new Wine blog
Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

Here is a product photography Blog I do
view my website

A Wonderful Courtyard - 1948

2013-02-19T13:44:00.003-08:00

A Wonderful Courtyard - 1948

First, I would like to apologize for the infrequency of my posts as of late. I have recently Switched to a Mac setup, and am having an issue with my scanner. Fortunately I have found some Antique Photographs that I had already scanned, and not posted. I will be posting those until my scanner is fixed.

This Photograph only had a date on it. Aug. 1st 1948. The building and landscaping have a certain class to it that I feel our society has lost. Maybe this was the start of that decline. (notice the man in the T-Shirt on the far left.)

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog
Check out my new Product Photography Page!

view my website

Nafra Reush House 1920

2013-01-08T14:40:00.002-08:00

Nafra Reush House 1920

This Vintage Photograph is terrific! It was a bit faded when I got it, but a simple level adjustment in photoshop was able to pull the detail back into the image.(The car and the 3 women and the far right of the picture were barely noticeable in the original photo.) There was nothing on the back of this photo, and on the front there was simply a 192 at the top left (partially cropped) and the words "Nafra Reush house 1920" on the bottom. (that is my interpretation of the handwriting if you feel it says something else, feel free to share in the comments below.)

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

San Gabriel Canyon 1938

2013-01-02T19:43:00.001-08:00

San Gabriel Canyon 1938

A group photo to commemorate the day. We don't think much of it in this day and age where everyone has a cell phone camera in their pocket. In 1938, things where different.

The back of this vintage photograph yields a wealth of knowledge. It reads:

San Gabriel Canyon 1938

Turen's Mt. Cabin

Susie T, Leon T, Grandpa T, Alice Escalleir

Ed + "Dad" Escalleir

(gus)

Otoole Picture

(millis)

San Gabriel Canyon 1938 - back

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

Chicago Children: 1934

2012-12-11T12:48:00.003-08:00

Chicago Children: August 22, 1934

This is a wonderful vintage photograph of a group of Children. It appears to me that the oldest child in the picture is in their teens, and the ages go down from there. Is this a school field trip? A family reunion? We will probably never know. The back of the picture simply had a stamp dating the picture to August 22, 1934, and placing it in Chicago. Do you think these kids are relatives? classmates? something else?

Chicago Children: back

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

Woman and Child

2012-12-04T12:19:00.005-08:00

Woman and Child

This photo had no information on the back. I can't get over the way the child is standing there, scowl on his face, and arm around the woman. If anyone out there can tell what time period the clothes are, please post it in the comments below. (My guess is late teens).

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

Rayles as Duckhunter: 1940

2012-11-27T12:45:00.002-08:00

Rayles as Duckhunter 1940

I found this photo at a swap meet in Pasadena. It looks like this was from a parade. (could it be an old Rose Parade picture?). The back of the photo said:

Rayles - as duck hunter

psl. v.

Big C Sircus Float

1940

Rayles as Duckhunter: back

When I first picked up this photo, I did not notice the writing on the top of the float. Unfortunately there is some parts of the float blocking it. I've tried enhancing the words a bit, and that image is below. It appears to say something about Ducks, and $2.00, and then Stanford book a month club.

Rayles as Duckhunter : detail

If anyone has any other information or ideas about what this float could have been from, feel free to comment below.
Looking at this photograph, I can't help wondering why the car on the side of the road appears to have its windows smashed, and grill missing. Was this a bad part of town, or just outside a repair shop?

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

Family with Car: 1940

2012-11-20T13:14:00.001-08:00

Family with Car 1940

Continuing along with the family and car theme, I bring you this vintage photograph. The back of this photo simply said: Oct 1, 1940. Unfortunately, the writing was so faded, my scanner didn't pick it up. This photo usually hangs in a frame by my front door. I'm not sure why, I just like it.

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

Father Son and Car: An American Tradition

2012-11-15T19:01:00.001-08:00

Father Son and Car

Whether it is a family posing in front of the car or a father and his son playing in the front yard and the car just happens to be in the background, old photographs with cars Hold a special place in my heart. This vintage photograph had no information written on it. But it is not difficult to figure out what this is. Most of us have this picture in an old family album. Not this exact picture, but a picture of a child, a father, and the family car in the background. The car in this picture looks to be a mid 1930's model. (If I am wrong, or if you know the make or model of the car, please add it to the comments below).

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

Family Photo with car. Illinois 1941

2012-11-13T20:26:00.001-08:00

Illinois Family 1941

Much like the "family photo with the house" style that preceded it, the "family photo with the car" Is one of my favorites. I think it is the addition of the design aesthetic of the time period. Whether it is architectural or auto design, I love to see the style while it is still fresh.

This vintage photograph had no information on the back, but we can see from the license plate on the car that the tag was issued in Illinois in 1941.

I wonder if this picture was taken today, on a digital camera, if the parents would have deleted it in preference of a shot that the boy in the front wasn't making a face, or the girl behind him wasn't looking down? Would this antique picture have the same charm?

*is the boy in the back Kurt Russell?

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

World War 1 Vet and Nurse 1919

2012-11-11T12:56:00.002-08:00

WW1 Vet and Women 1919

It is Veterans Day. As a salute to the Brave Soldiers who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, and our lives, I thought I would post this vintage photograph.

The back of this picture reads:

Venice

Jan 1, 1919

I found this antique photograph at a flee market in Hollywood Ca, so I am going to guess that this photo was taken in Venice Ca. Since it was taken in January of 1919 I am going to assume that the man is a WW1 Vet (the uniform seems to be correct). I think the woman may be a nurse, but that is going off the white dress, and the big red cross on the building behind them. (for all I know it is a pink dress, and that cross isn't red).

Remember, America and all her freedoms was built from the blood sweat and tears of our Vets, not the hot air from our politicians.

Today is our day to say Thank You.

WW1 Vet and Women 1919: back

Also, check out this great picture from a World War 2 Victory Parade

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website

A family Reunion in Ocean City - 1949

2012-11-08T17:51:00.001-08:00

Atlantic City 1949

This is a photo of a small family reunion in 1949. The back of the photo reads:

219 Wesly Ave Ocean City

Herb Mother (sic)

alex & Margerie (sic)

his family reunion

1949

I think I may be wrong on the 2 womens names, if anyone can decipher it better, please feel free to leave a comment with your ideas of what those names are. (image of the back is below).

It is also worth noting that, since I was born in New Jersey, I was well aware that there is an Ocean City in New Jersey just south of Atlantic City. I typed the address into Google maps (adding NJ), and the house at that address (in street view) in Ocean City New Jersey looks to be the same house. (click here to see the google map page)

Atlantic City 1949: back

Follow me on twitter
Check out my photography Blog

view my website