Vintage Photos

Tinted tinype in a CDV-sized paper mount. Mouse over the top of this image to see a close-up of the tintype . Printed on the reverse (see small image below): "Cope, artificial fly tyer and photographer, cor. Strawberry Alley & LaFayette Street, Norristown, Pa."

For more information, see the full version of the tintype.

"Cope, artificial fly tyer and photographer, cor. Strawberry Alley & LaFayette Street, Norristown, Pa." This is the reverse of Tintype of Girl in Plaid Dress, Norristown, Pa. (see small image below).

Stamped on back: "Hill Studio, 1415 Derry Street, Harrisburg, Pa." Handwritten on back: "Dec. 23, 1947." A puzzling photo of a masked Santa Claus (evidently a woman wearing a skirt) sitting next to a pile of wrapped presents and a Christmas tree. Newspapers are strewn about on the floor, and the walls in the background seem to be either water-stained or wet (could it be the inside of an unheated shed or trailer with condensation running down the walls?). The tips of what appear to be ironing boards surround Santa on both sides. Could this show early preparations for a gift distribution of some sort? Or has a downtrodden Santa taken up residence in a storage unit?

I'm not sure what to make of this scene. A man and woman are posing with three sculptural pieces in the shapes of a boy, a woman, and a man. The sign above the boy says, "Hey, mom, is that guy Rip Van Winkle?" The mom replies, according to the second sign, "Yeah, and look at his wrinkled wink." Unfortunately, the third sign is only partially visibile, and I can't determine what it says. The guy with the wrinkled wink who turned out to be Rip Van Winkle is reading a book entitled Love Stories , and the cover of the book also says, "For the love of Mike." Inscribed on part of the stump just below Rip is the name "Ben Funk." Does any of this ring a bell with anyone?

"Chuck brings to you our old treasure chest full of our best 1956 Christmas wishes. Ada and Jacob T. Bowman, M.D."

"Coast Motel. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year."

"Our entire organization [is] doing their best to extend to you their wishes for the utmost of the season's happiness and good fortune. The Eshelman Supply Co. Bill, Dave, Charley, Hen, Jim, Paul, Ben, Myron, Warren, Bel, Art, Girv."

"Merry Christmas. Miles, Geal, and Rosalie Hudson."

"Merry Christmas, 1949. The Hassingers."

"Christmas Greetings, 1962. David, Ricky, Diane, Richard, and Helen Hughes." For another card from the Hughes, see Merry Christmas from the Hughes, 1963 :

The inside of a "Santa and Me" photo folder displays a picture of a bespectacled Santa holding a wary-looking kid. The red-and-green decorations at the top and bottom of the photograph are part of the paper frame and help to hold the photo in place. The cover (below) on the outside of the folder depicts a colorful scene of a Christmas tree shining brightly among city skyscrapers.

Hope you have a holiday celebration filled with as much fun and excitement as these kids seem to be having (well, the youngest one, at least, appears to be having a good time)! Best wishes, Alan

A snow photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . If the woman has just fallen down in the snow, why is she smiling? What happened to her coat? And why is the girl in the background smiling and just standing there on her skis? An amusingly contrived photo that makes me wonder why it was taken.

A Happy New Year photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . Handwritten message on the back of the photo: "Best Wishes for the New Year, Frank Schluth." I believe that this photo shows Mr. Schluth dressed in a costume for the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. As Wikipedia explains, "The Mummers Parade is held each New Year's Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. . . . Local clubs (usually called 'New Years Associations') compete in one of four categories (comics, fancies, string bands, and fancy brigades). They prepare elaborate costumes and moveable scenery, which take months to complete." For addional information and recent photos, see the Philadelphia Mummers Parade Web site. Best wishes to all my Ipernity friends for a happy and healthy New Year!

The handwritten note on the back of this photo suggests that the dog is dressed in a party hat for New Year's eve.