Edwardian lantern slides (forum archive)

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 Posted by plbramham » 27 Jan 2013, 10:42
plbramham
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Here’s some Edwardian lantern slides (Summer training camp perhaps? Maybe at Holmescales or Halton?) which were in a poor condition so I’ve attempted to improve in them Photoshop. One is captioned “Cyclists 5th Border YMCA series 159”, thus indicating that it is post 1908 (4th & 5th territorials were formed that year from the previous volunteer battalions). However it is the only one which is captioned on the slide itself and bears the “Y.M.C.A” designation. The others have written captions stuck on to the frame of the slide without “YMCA” and I they suspect may be from an earlier set, especially as on the “dressing for parade” slide, I notice in the piles of uniforms in the foreground there are a couple of blue cloth helmets with a Victorian crown on the plate surround. I know that (especially territorials) insignia would not have been changed immediately on the death of a monarch, but seven years or so seems a bit of an excessive delay if they were also taken post 1908!

The slides are captioned:

  • “Ready for parade” (note the flags – signallers I guess?)
  • “Dressing for parade” (note blue cloth helmets on uniform pile)
  • “Celebrating presentation of medals” (sporting, shooting, inter platoon competition medals I guess?)
  • No caption, but obviously at Carlisle Castle with gatehouse behind.
  • “Cyclists 5th Border YMCA series 159” (I suspect from a later set of slides - see above)

Regards, Paul.

 Posted by kerchi » 04 Feb 2013, 11:06
Kerchi
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In memory of
John Bardgett
(15309 L/Cpl.)

11th Border Regiment
Who died 1st July 1916.
Great photos Paul. Where did you find these?

I was just wondering when the fashion of having a couple of guys lying down symmetrically (or as near as possible though the above example seems to be a mish-mash of poses) and leaning on their respective arms become something of the past. I known this style of photography was very commonplace for a long period of time but I don't know when this style of pose was phased out in favour of something else.

Any ideas?

 Posted by plbramham » 04 Feb 2013, 11:40
plbramham
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 kerchi wrote:
I was just wondering when the fashion of having a couple of guys lying down symmetrically become something of the past. Any ideas?

Looking at old photo examples, it started in Victorian times (actually that's a bit of an obvious remark - of course it did, at the same time as photography itself!) but was a especially popular style for group pictures in Edwardian times, then continued into the 1920s and even later for those liking older style group images. I've sometimes wondered if it began in the early days when the subjects had to stay still for long exposure times and it was easy for them to hold this position propped up as an alternative pose to sitting with your head braced), then the style just carried on even when faster film and shutter speeds could be used. You also see it in school photos and for sports teams. (Personally, I've always thought it looks a bit effeminate, and certainly looks a bit relaxed and even "slovenly" for military groups!)
Paul.

 Posted by kerchi » 04 Feb 2013, 17:51
Kerchi
Field-Marshal
Administrator
Posts: 2160
In memory of
John Bardgett
(15309 L/Cpl.)

11th Border Regiment
Who died 1st July 1916.
 plbramham wrote:
Personally, I've always thought it looks a bit effeminate, and certainly looks a bit relaxed and even "slovenly" for military groups!

I'll agree with you on that but it is good to see military men a bit more relaxed even if they are slovenly-looking, especially in the above photo, where they all seem to be doing something slightly different: sitting upright but cross-legged, one guy lying on his front and another leaning on the shoulder of a comrade, and my personal favourite, stirring the tea or coffee with arm around comrade.

There seems to be a lot happening in this picture and I am wondering if the person taking the photo said 'just do what you want', otherwise they certainly weren't listening to him if he was giving them instruction.

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