Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Unidentified country shots
This might be somewhere on the Isle of Wight, no earlier than late Thirties, I’d guess.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
The Chief Engineer
How clearly this photo distinguishes whose is the more commanding presence! In my mind I see this as Sep’s maiden voyage. His new boss steps on board, and thinks, “Who the hell is this chap, taking snaps of me without permission?"
Another shot of the Chief, right. I wonder what the chalk marks on the deck mean. Perhaps they are to mark some maintenance work or modifications.
He looks happy enough to be photographed here. His white trousers are a trifle short. He's seldom seen without a cigarette in his hand. I suspect he may have unconsciously have become a role model for Sep, who even grew to look like him a little in later life. Or is it my imagination?
The Chief in work-clothes.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
Luxury transport
The photographer was pretty proud of this vehicle, I think. Note the sidecar with weather protection, suitable for a female passenger.
The sailor himself, in various guises
New recruit and old hand?
Sarong, fan, experimental moustache? No comment.
What a long sea voyage may do to a man.
Compare with this, almost certainly taken at the same spot. Look at the rivets. But the moustache is shorter. Or is it a shadow of his nose? Can you see why I call him Popeye the sailorman? Look at the arms!
Ahem!
I think this photo still has merit, though something was wrong with the negative. I don’t know if it was developed wrong, or has decayed since with the aid of mould.
At Osborne House
This is the Swiss Cottage, in the grounds of Osborne House, the holiday home built by Victoria and Albert in East Cowes. This Swiss-style chalet was a rather grand playhouse built for the Royal children.
Mystery locations
Where is this? Note the three-masted sailing ship.
My guess for these would be views of East Cowes from West Cowes.
I’ve no idea where this extraordinary vessel was photographed, and suspect it was not the Solent. I’ve sharpened the grayscale to bring out the "JS" on what looks like the cover of a paddle-wheel. Checking Google, I discover the SS Capitol, a Mississippi river-steamer.
But my search also leads to a steamer called JS, below:
Click for more details, including the information that it was destroyed by fire in 1910. So what Sep saw was the JS’s replacement, SS Capitol (not Capital) owned by the same company as the JS which had been named after its owner, John Streckfus.
Again, click for more details.
I wonder where on his travels, and when, he saw this? Is it possible it came to UK, along with a jazz band, and he saw it arriving in the Solent? Not, it was not constructed to cross the Atlantic. Perhaps his merchant navy career took him to New Orleans.
Puzzle indeed. This photo was very discoloured.
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