I got this as a "forward" email but the photos are really quite interesting or at least were really interesting to me particularly all the people at the beach who were all dressed up! This is the forward: Note how sharp and clear most of the photos are and these are over a 100 years old. There aren't many old photos as good as this, remember they didn't have film or digital photo cards in those days. Most probable is that these were glass plate images and taken thru a pin hole type camera and the opening was timed just right to get a dark enough exposure. Developing was another tedious task during which they had to be careful not to break the glass! Woodward Avenue, Detroit , Michigan, in 1917. 2. Atlantic City, 1910 3. The main street of Memphis , north of Avenue Gayoso, 1910. 4. Station"Louisville-Nashville," Florida , in 1910. 5. Forsyth Street, Jacksonville , Florida, in 1910.Love those cars. 6. The beach in Atlantic City , 1915.Note the men in coats and ties. 7. Grant Avenue after an earthquake in San Francisco in 1906. 8. Carts for transporting dairy Thompson, Washington , 1927.How in the world did the dairy get those horses so evenly lined up. (Washington County, Wisconsin?) 9. Washington, DC, 1914.Not so thoughty having those horses run on a railroad tracks. (thoughty? must have been a popular word back in the day) (note the people in the windows) 10. Cadillac Square, Detroit , Michigan, 1916. 11. Ninth Street, Washington DC, 1915. 13. Corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street , New York , 1910. 14. Broad Street north of Spruce Street , Philadelphia , 1905. 15. View of Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn in 1909. 16. Fire at 55th Street , New York , 1915. 17. Fifth Avenue, New York, 1913. 18. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 1907. 19. The New York Publi c Library, New York , 1915.Didn't realize they had 4-laners in those days. 20. Wall Street, New York , 1911.The 2 sidewalks together are as wide as the street in this pic. 21. Fifth Avenue, New York, 1913.Look at those top hats!
I really enjoy seeing old photographs like these. Aren't those cars amazing?!! I'm so glad these pictures have stood the test of time as it would be a shame to lose all that history.
Wow. My uncle LOVES old photos like these. He works in a camera shop and processes photos all the time, and will occasionally post on Facebook photos that he gets to work with. A few days ago, he posted a few pics someone gave him to scan of Hitler, Mussolini and others.
Man I love these!! I love seeing how people lived back in the day, their clothes, what they drove (if they did of course) the architecture...everything about the early days is just fascinating to me!
Outstanding Islandlife! I'm old enough to remember horse drawn carts delivering ice, veggies and whatnot on the streets of Brooklyn, NY. Also I was big into shooting B&W in the early 70's. Tri x pan was my film of choice. Interesting enough it was introduced in the year I was born. "In 2004 Kodak celebrated 50 years of Tri-X's introduction on November 1, 1954[4] in 35 and 120 formats."
My great grandfather lived to be 102, and I can honestly say, I never saw him without a suit jacket on. Even while working his large garden in the heat of summer.
My Grannie NEVER left the house without being all formally (all makeup, hair totally coiffed & pinned in place plus a hat with all clothes ironed and pressed plus shoes shined) dolled up unlike me today - omg she'd roll in her grave is she saw how I stroll out and the clothes I wear. Iron? Iron & press?
Fantastic set of pictures IL and thanks for sharing. BUT, on a techie point, no way were they taken with pinhole as suggested in the intro. Pinhole DOES give sharp images but exposures are long and in all these pictures movement is frozen. Look at the horses galloping the cart in the tram tracks. You couldn't do that with pinhole. Probably quarter plate cameras and the fastest emulsions available in the day..... But I love the mono images
Those are great. I've always liked old photos, it's amazing what the artists eye can capture on film. If you like these, check out http://www.shorpy.com/
@Evil Roy Many great shots there Roy and thanks for pointing us to Shorpy. Many by the late great Jack Delano. I particularly like the two loco's in Chicago railyard. My kind of picture.
I occasionally come across an old postcard of a location known to me. I then try to get a similar picture as the scene is today, then meld the two images to represent a time composite. I came across this picture of a lane in my home city. It is about 100 years old. I then tried to replicate the image as it is today Then I combined the two to produce a composite of the lane with 100 years history between each side of the lane. At other times I don't combine the pictures, I just keep two that represent different times for the same location. This is the main street of my city circa 1890 and present day. Just the sort of things to do with time on my hands.
Super interesting. So much changed yet so much the same. You're lucky to find 'old' photos. I kinda think there are lots kicking about but are all in boxes in attics and cellars. Kinda also makes one wonder if young people nowadays would even keep the old pictures as they probably don't even recognize 'where' they are from.