Vintage glass negatives

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A collection of scans taken from early 20th century glass negatives.

I have owned these glass negatives for around 30 years, but only recently got a scanner, an Epson Perfection 4490 Photo, which is capable of scanning them.
Many of the negatives are too large to fit my scanners negative holder, so some of them are only partial scans.
The subjects are varied and include:- street scenes,
steamships, paddle steamers, buildings, villages, seaside resorts, cars, caravans and much more.
I particularly like the pictures of the steamships, Blackpool, the vintage cars and trucks and the street carnivals which give a nostalgic view of the UK in the early 20th century, some being as early as 1900.
Below are some of the scans.
Please click on the images below to go to my flickr page, where you will find larger images.

Blackpool tower circa 1900

Beach scene from around 1900, from an old glass negative. 

This is a real beauty in my opinion.
It typifies the holiday makers of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.
I love the horse and cart with "boat car" on the side, which ferried people to the sailboats for a trip around the bay.
Notice how most of the adults are formally dressed and the children are in their "Sunday best".
Click on the image to go to my flickr page to see a larger photo.

glass negative 1900 beach scene

Angler and boy, from anold glass negative 

1920s fisherman

Epson scanners on Amazon 

The following Epson scanners are a good choice for scanning negatives.

The glass negatives in this lens were scanned using an Epson Perfection 4490 Photo, which is supplied with 2 negative carriers.
I find it easy to use and quite quick for scans suitable for web publication, however, scans at a high resolution for printed output take substantially longer.

Epson Perfection 4490 Photo Scanner

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

Two boys fishing, from an old glass negative 

glass negative boys fishing

SS Cambria, from an old glass negative 

The London & North Western Railway owned SS Cambria was launched in 1921
and used on the service between Holyhead and Dublin, she was also used on the service between Heysham and the Isle of Man, and between Holyhead and Greenore, in Northern Ireland.
Cambria steamship circa 1920s

The Devonia, from an old glass negative 

The Devonia berthed at Ilfracombe

"Launched on 22nd March 1905 by John Brown at Clydebank
Engines : Compound diagonal 34.5 and 71 in x 60 in
Dimensions : 245 ft x 29 ft
641 Gross Registered TonnesBarry Railway Company vessel that came to P and A Campbell by way of Bristol Channel Boats in 1911
Served on the east coast during World War I as a minesweeper
Was assigned to the South Coast when Campbells returned to that station in 1923, remaining until 1932
Served on the Bristol Channel until being laid up in 1939
Reconditioned for use as a minesweeper and sent to eastern Scotland
Attended the Dunkirk evacuation, but was abandoned on the French coast on May 31st 1940 under heavy fire from enemy aircraft."
Devonia ferry at Ilfracombe early 1900s

The Fairy Glen Hotel, from an old glass negative. 

Lovely old street scene in North Wales.

The Fairy Glen Hotel is still open for business today as a pub with B & B and a restaurant.
Situated on Conwy Old Road, Dwygyfylchi, Penmaenmawr , in North Wales.
Fairy Glen Hotel early 1900s

Donkey drawn milk cart, from an old glass negative. 

This photograph shows only a part of the original negative, as the negative is too large for my scanner

Milk cart owned by "The Farmers' and Cleveland Dairies Co., Limited."
early 1900s cart

Horse drawn ice cream cart, from an old glass negative. 

"Hutchinson's Ices" horse drawn cart, so far I've been unable to find out anything about the company.
Early 1900s ice cream cart

The Forth railway bridge, from an old glass negative 

Built between 1883 and 1890

The Forth Railway Bridge is 1.5 miles long.
Probably most famous for the fact that it is always being painted, by the time the painters get from one side to the other, they have to start over again at the other side, as it is ready for painting again! "The world's first major steel bridge, with its gigantic girder spans of 521 m. (1710 ft.) ranks as one of the great feats of civilization. It was begun in 1883 and formally completed on 4 March 1890 when HRH Edward Prince of Wales tapped into place a 'golden' rivet."
Forth Rail Bridge early 1900s

Procession, from an old glass negative 

Quite possibly royalty, judging by the numbers in the crowds.

I have not been able to find out the location of this yet.
I would welcome any information from any one who may recognize the location of this procession.
Procession circa1900

Car towing caravan, from an old glass negative 

Another negative which is only a partial scan, too big for my scanner.

Fabulous old caravan and car, I would guess from the 1920's or 1930's.
Anyone know the make of car or caravan?
Caravaning circa1920s

Same caravan, different car, from an old glass negative 

Any idea of the make of car anyone?
Caravaning circa1930s

Early 1900's street gaslamp. 

Taken from an old glass negative, a nice, atmospheric
shot of a gaslamp in the snow
Early 1900s Street Gaslamp

Sailing ships in harbour, from an old glass negative. 

I would date this harbour scene to around 1920.
If anyone recognizes the location, please let me know.
Sailing ships in harbour early 1900s

Street carnival, from an old glass negative. 

Early 1900's street carnival with some nice vintage cars.
As usual, anyone with any idea of the location please let me know.
Street carnival 3 early 1900s

Sailing ship in harbour early 1900s, from an old glass negative. 

Triple masted sailing ship.
Sailing ship in harbour early 1900s

Vintage car with woman and boy, from a glass negative 

Car with boy and woman circa 1920s

House at night in snow, from an old glass negative. 

house with lamp at night

Blackpool seafront, circa 1900, from anold glass negative. 

Blackpool Promenade circa 1900

Bandstand in park, from an old glass negative. 

Bandstand circa 1920

Camping in the 1920's or 30's, from an old glass negative. 

Camping circa 1920s-30s

Early 1900's small steam boat, from an old glass negative. 

Small steam boat circa1900

1920's interior with woman, from an old glass negative 

1920s woman

Same woman, different pose. 

That's a really beautifully carved Edwardian mirror back sideboard behind her.

1920s woman1

1920's group photo, from an old glass negative 

Look closely at the woman far right and you will see she's holding a fishtail tennis raquet, a rare item today.

1920s group

If you like vintage images take a look at Shorpy. 

If you have enjoyed looking at the images in this lens, I would recommend a visit to the Shorpy site.
There are some really nice, nostalgic images there.
Click on any of the links below to view.

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by gedtee

Hi,
I live in the UK, near Pontefract in West Yorkshire and run The A645 Trading Post in Featherstone together with my wife.
We have been in this busi... (more)

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