THE MAN WITH THE STEEL WOOL BEARD IN EXETER, ENGLAND

A well dressed man poses for his portrait at the studio of Charles Keeping in Exeter, England. The subjects beard looks remarkably similar to a Brillo pad. Pity his poor wife during their amorous times together. The photographer, Charles Keeping (1842-?) was born at Lymington in Hampshire. He first worked as a photographer in Exeter in about 1870.He set up a studio at New Bridge Street after moving to Exeter from Torquay between 1867 and 1870. The studio moved to the address listed on this cabinet card (1, Exe Bridge) in 1873. Keeping also had a number of branch studios. In the mid to late 1880’s the business was known as the “Exonia Studio”. The available history indicates that this image was produced between 1873 and the late 1880’s. The subjects steel wool type beard is his ticket to enter the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Beards (Only the Best). Click on the category to see an amazing collection of unusual and interesting beards.

Published in: on February 5, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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SALVATION ARMY COUPLE IN POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

This cabinet card photograph features a couple dressed in Salvation Army Uniforms. They are likely a married couple considering the familiarity evident by the woman resting her hand on the mans shoulder. The man is holding his hat on his knee and is wearing a Salvation Army Badge. The photograph was taken at Lachman’s Studio in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A photographic journal (1894) cites a studio called Isaac S. Lachman & Son located in Pottstown. Anthony’s Photographic Bulletin (1901) reports the “recent death” of Isaac Lachman.

Published in: on February 4, 2011 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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HANDSOME GUY IN A FUR COAT IN TORONTO, CANADA

A good looking young man, adorned in a fur coat,  poses for his portrait. The photographer is J. Fraser Bryce and his studio was located on 107 King Street West, in Toronto, Canada. Bryce was born in 1852 in Dundas, Ontario. After completing his education he went to Toronto and studied photography with Thomas Hunter. He supplemented his training with then acclaimed photographers, C. C. Randall of Detroit, Michigan, and J. F. Ryder of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1884, Bryce located permanently in Toronto buying Hunter’s studio. Bryce is cited in the American Annuals of Photography (1887) as a member of the executive committee of the Photographic Association of Canada.

Published in: on February 2, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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J. B. TITUS AND HIS BEARD IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

A gentleman, identified as J. B. Titus (on the reverse of the cabinet card) is the subject of this photograph by G. E. Lawrence, of Los Angeles, California. George E. Lawrence was also a member of the California National Guard and was listed as holding a rank of Major and as being a Signal Officer. The military information is listed in a publication of the California Adjutant General’s Office (1906). The subject, Mr. Titus, has an interesting thick and scraggly beard which qualifies him to join the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Beards (Only the Best)”. Click on the category to view multiple photographs of remarkable beards.

Published in: on February 1, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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