In Germany, a century ago

I recently purchased a batch of cameras from a seller through eBay; They are cameras from the early 20th century (Kodak, Voigtländer, Agfa, etc.). The fact is that accompanying the cameras came certain documentation, user manuals and ... several negatives on 6x9cm film. and 9x12cm. (most of the latter). Out of curiosity I decided to scan the negatives and, given their value as a sentimental and family souvenir, I contacted the seller who sold me the cameras in case the previous owner could be located and that he was interested in the images of his family that I had scanned. ; He informed me that he had not been able to trace the previous owner. For this reason I have decided to put this post (I think it is the appropriate forum) accompanied by two of the scanned images; perhaps someone could recognize the people in the photos or provide a clue about them. The images (in correspondence with the age of the cameras) I suppose they are from the 1920s and everything seems to indicate that they are located in Germany. In case it helps, the seller is based in a town near Frankfurt.

 

 

That's interesting. The hairstyles and clothes seem to me to be later than the 1920's though, even as late as the 1950's. But I'm no fashion guru.

Not only the "modern" suits, clothing, and hairstyles, but also the vehicles that appear in other photographs have made me decide to risk the 1920-30 decade as a probable date; certainly before the last world war.

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully somebody will recognize their ancestors.

Gorgeous photos! One of my occasional photographic hobbies is 'restoring' old, damaged photos. It took me months to learn the various 'tips and tricks'.And other restorers are much better than I am. These photos all look to be in good condition apart from a few spots.

 

I'm a member of Rootschat.com, a UK-based genealogy forum with many sub-forums including photo dating and restoration. I'm hopeless at dating photos based on fashion trends but details of photographers or sellers often provide useful information for dating

I'm still kicking myself for not having paid enough attention when my mom and dad would talk about the various relatives and show us pictures of them. I have old snap shots and some of them have names written on the front of the photos which used to drive me crazy! "Mom, you shouldn't do that"! Now I'm glad she did.

Thanks for sharing.

 

I have gone through the family "trunk" and digitized a large bunch of my old family photos. Like ajkocu, I regret that I don't know who a lot of the older pictures are.

I've developed a few rolls of film that were left in cameras I bought, - nothing as old as this though. Always makes me wonder about the lives those people led. Even the young girl may be gone by now.

 

Fashion changes aside I find it somehow reassuring that you could snap a photo today that wouldn't look that much different. People are people. Young kids will still bashfully nibble on finger while looking at a camera, - and big hams a minute later.

 

The older woman looks like any number of aunts and great aunts that I had along with their friends in my old town.

Thanks for sharing.

 

I have gone through the family "trunk" and digitized a large bunch of my old family photos. Like ajkocu, I regret that I don't know who a lot of the older pictures are.

 

... yes, it is common for many old cameras to be sold by the seller (consciously or unconsciously) with an exposed or semi-exposed film and it has also happened to me to inadvertently open the camera upon receipt, thus veiling the semi-exposed film. But a collection of negatives already revealed is the first time that happens to me.

... since the subject seems to have aroused some interest, I add three more photographs.

 

It is more than likely that even children are not among the living anymore.