The parakeets were back on the suet ball feeder yesterday. I was glad to see them, because they haven't been around much lately. They didn't like the last batch of suet balls we put out. I've since replaced them with a new variety and apparently the birds are happy again.
I stayed around the house yesterday and got a few things done -- tidying the patio, working on our plants. I also took some stuff to the frame shop, including blogger Vivian's recent paintings of Olga. They should be ready in two weeks or so.
Since yesterday was relatively uninteresting, let's look at some old photos!
Remember how I mentioned walking through Covent Garden on Monday? Well, I browsed the market and came across a guy with some old photos for sale. I always worry that old photos at flea markets -- miniature pieces of history -- could easily be lost forever, so I bought three small snapshots for a pound, figuring I could scan them and put them online. Here they are:
If I had to guess, I'd say this was taken at some kind of auto or motorcycle show, and these women are models hired to pose with the machines. I'm guessing that based on their similarity of dress. It's obviously a '60s picture. What on earth did the photographer do to that negative to scratch it up so badly?
This one, dated May 1937, is pretty amusing. What's up with Mouse Boy on the left, there? It looks like these people are dressed up for an amateur theater performance or maybe a fancy-dress party. Gilbert & Sullivan? The woman second-from-right could be a character from The Mikado. Your guess is as good as mine.
Finally, I took this one on as a sort of challenge. I wanted to see if I could identify this town based on elements in the picture. The paper photo itself is very small and I couldn't even read the signs, but when I scanned it and blew it up I could see them. That's Norris's Grocery on the right, and (I think) S. J. Saverstock's drapery and millinery shop down the street.
I looked up Norris's Grocery and it turns out there's still an establishment by that name in Niton, on the Isle of Wight. So I went there on Google Street View, and BINGO! Relatively quickly I found the same street today:
Norris's Grocery is now in the building on the far corner where Saverstock's used to be; the shop on the right now has a different name. There's a pub to the photographer's immediate left; maybe they took the picture after a few pints, which would explain the wonky angle!
I LOVE that you did this. That last photo and your sleuthing are a bit of magic. And the other photos are simply fun and curious. Let’s call that first photo “Toilets.≠
ReplyDeleteEven I was surprised at how quickly I located that street. Thank goodness Norris's is still around!
DeleteI admire your tenacity to find more out about the last photo. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
It makes me want to go back and buy a few more!
DeleteI like analyzing old photos but rarely solve anything. Mostly I just ponder and never know how accurate I was.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I thought it was a very slim chance that I'd locate that street.
DeleteWhat a great bit of detective work! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteExcellent detective work on the third photograph Steve! Now you, Dave and Olga will have to visit Niton for a holiday break. You can even stay in "The White Lion". Hiring a car would be a good option.
ReplyDeleteI've put the photo on Flickr so maybe others from Niton will enjoy it too.
DeleteI wonder if the middle picture of the people dressed up was a Coronation party of some kind? The date would be right. George VI.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good guess! Could be, given all the Union Jacks, but I'm not sure what the mouse has to do with it.
DeleteI love that you found where the old photo was taken! Unless you are attached to the photo (I would be, but I'm terrible like that), I would contact the current owner and let them know that you have a photo of their shop from 100 years ago, and would they like to have it to display in their store?
ReplyDeleteWell, I've put it out there online so they should be able to find it via Google soon enough.
DeleteFascinating, Steve. I hadn’t even thought of Google Earth as a possibility. Cool how you can manipulate the shot
ReplyDeleteI've never embedded Google Street View before, but it works pretty well on the desktop. It looks wonky on a phone, though.
DeleteWhat A Trip - Excellent Post
ReplyDeleteCheers
Glad you liked it! A trip back in time!
DeleteThat phot with the boy in the mouse suit is kinda scary in a sense. I mean, he really stands out in that sea of costumes.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are quite the detective figuring out the locale of that last photo!
I also thought he was a little on the creepy side!
DeleteThat's a fun post, Steve! I love that you solved the location puzzle on that last photo. I love to play detective like that!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun doing it and I was stunned when it worked out!
DeleteWell, there are definitely things that the internet is amazingly good for. Satisfying our curiosity in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteYeah, for all its evils, the Internet really is pretty amazing.
DeleteNice detective work!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThat was fun! I even played a bit with Google Earth street view scene. The costume photo wonderful. Could that be Jack and Jill in the middle?
ReplyDeleteMaybe -- but I think Jill might be a boy?
DeleteI am so impressed that you found that street. That's pretty amazing. That photo looks quite old. The people in the costumes is very curious however, I have heard that the English do love a good costume party.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the street view photo must be from around 1900 or 1910, I'm guessing. (Based on the clothing.)
DeleteBrilliant. That could be a regular challenge. It would be more interesting than Wordle.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I seriously think I might go buy some more pictures.
DeleteThat second picture is intriguing. And how cool that you found the modern day version of the last photo, still looks the same just a little updated.
ReplyDeleteAren't those costumes wild? I wonder if Boud is right, above, that it's a coronation party.
DeleteWell those photos certainly took you down a rabbit hole!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take much!
DeleteMouse boy... Mickey mouse did look different in the 30s...
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...he COULD be Mickey, I suppose...
Delete(But WHY?)
DeleteVery cool! I love that you found the street. I also like the fancy dress photo & would love to know the back story.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteInteresting old photos and amazing detective work, Steve. The buildings have hardly changed.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how instantly recognizable they are.
DeleteThat is so cool that you found the street. I love doing those sorts of things; it is like detective work!
ReplyDeleteIt really is! It's the reporter in me.
DeleteI love that you used Google Earth and found a current photo to match! If you like searching/solving games, I use to play something called GeoGuesser which uses Google Earth. It starts you with a photo of someplace, then you start moving around from that point, using roadsigns, places, and other indicators to try and determine where you are. It use to be a free game, but I think it now has a small fee. I've been tempted to sign up again.
ReplyDeleteI just looked and they evidently offer a free version. (and I misspelled it above) There used to be versions for the world, the US, and several other countries (Including the UK, I think). Here's the link if you want to check it out:
Deletehttps://www.geoguessr.com
Oh, I LOVE Geoguessr! I've even blogged about it here, though it was years ago. I haven't played it in ages.
DeleteI was thinking that guy in the top hat might be the Mad Hatter but I don't know. Great job on finding that street that reflects the changes from your picture. The internet has made detective work so much easier. Sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThe Mad Hatter is as good a guess as any!
DeleteWell done! I have an old painting of Montmartre that has to be at least 60 years old. I was tickled pink when I found the location on google.
ReplyDeleteIt's like time travel!
DeleteGreat sleuthing with the last photo. I always find such comparisons so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThere's a great book called "Eugene Atget's Paris" that has old and modern pictures of Paris side-by-side. It's fascinating.
DeleteThis is so cool. I love the detective work you did -- so very smart and fun, too. And rescuing the photos. I look at the ones I have from parents and grandparents that aren't the family pics but ones they took. I have no idea what to do with them -- can't scan them all. I'm the only kid of an only kid and no relatives on dad's side to want those things, which makes me terribly sad. On mom's side, there's a line for family memorabilia and new generations. They are fascinating photos -- real slices of life from times past. I'm glad you found them.
ReplyDeleteI think someone would enjoy them even if they're not part of the family. There's a whole market out there for old slides and photos, and slowly but surely many of them are making their way online. (At least the ones of wider interest.) Of course, whether you WANT them online or not is another story!
DeleteI like the old photo of that street and am happy you were able to locate the same street and show us what it looks like now. Just a coat of paint difference I'd say, and the new shop names.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it really is amazing how similar the street looks today!
Delete