Two men pose together at the Clark studio in Albany. It is not clear which state Albany is located in, but the most likely answer is New York. L. Wilson Clark was a photographer in Albany, New York. He may be the photographer that produced this cabinet card. The two fellows in this image seem to be well acquainted. The man on the right has a big smile, while the gentleman on the left, seems rather uncomfortable with his friend’s intimacy. The men are wearing suits with neckties and wonderful hats. Their clothing does not seem to be of the finest quality.
TWO FRIENDLY GUYS IN ALBANY, NEW YORK
RUFFIAN LOOKING MAN POSES FOR RUFFIAN PHOTOGRAPHER WITH A NEW IDEA IN PICTURE HANGING (NEW JERSEY)
An intense looking gentleman poses for his portrait at the studio of Albert Vetter. Vetter operated two photographic galleries in New Jersey; one was in Jersey City, while the other was located in Hoboken. The man in this photograph is dressed formally, like a gentleman; but he has the look of a ruffian. Could be an interesting story about the discrepancy, but no identifying information is available about the man in this photograph. On the subject of ruffians, wait until you hear about the photographer of this image. The magazine, The Camera and the Darkroom ( 1904) reported that Vetter was at odds with the family that lived in the house that was also the home of his studio. Vetter got a picture of the head of the family, who recently died. He enlarged the picture and fastened a rope around it at the neck, and hung it out the window. The daughter of the late man, got a step ladder and removed the photograph. A “war of words” followed and Vetter was arrested. He was arraigned in front of a judge for disorderly conduct and he was put up for bond to maintain the peace. The magazine used a humorous headline to describe this incident; “New Idea in Picture Hanging”.
HANDSOME MAN WITH THICK MUSTACHE IN ALBANY, NEW YORK
This cabinet card portrait captures a handsome man with a terrific thick mustache. He is dressed impeccably. The photographer is Sterry and his studio was located at 520 & 522 Broadway, in Albany, New York. To view other interesting mustaches, click on Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Mustaches (Only the Best). Edwin S. Sterry (1842-1900) was the successor to Mcdonald & Sterry, also located in Albany. Sterry was considered the principal photographer in Albany for 27 years, according to the journal “The Photogram (1894)”. The journal describes Sterry as the equivalent of a European court photographer. It is reported that he was patronized by all levels of politicians from both parties. It is also asserted that his photograph of the judges of the Court of Appeals generated fifteen thousand dollars in sales.
TWO DANDIES IN THE WOODS IN EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
This cabinet card features two well-dressed men posing for their portrait in a studio belonging to J. W. Ecker. The studio was located in Evansville, Indiana and at one time was called the Sunbeam Gallery. . The men in this photograph are wearing identical outfits. Note their striped pants, derby hats and canes. The man on the left is holding a cigar. They are posed in front of a nice backdrop depicting a forest.
OLDER GENTLEMAN WITH SCRUFFY BEARD IN PORTLAND, MAINE
This cabinet card features an older man with a scruffy, but nicely shaped, pointy beard. In the style of his day, he has just the top button of his jacket fastened. The photographer of this image is Howard M. Smith of Portland, Maine. Smith operated studios at 2574 Middle Street and at 478 Congress Street, in Portland. Smith’s studio is listed in an 1891 Portland business directory. To view other photographs of unusual beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”.
PORTRAIT OF A POSSE
This cabinet card offers a joy ride for the viewers imagination. The mind trip leads to a small town in the old west. Six men are gathered in the photography studio of E W. Beard. The men are members of a posse that has recently captured a notorious outlaw. They have come together for a group portrait, so that they can have a memento of their accomplishment. It would be terrific to know the real reason why these men are gathered together; but there is no explanatory evidence available. Further frustration and lack of success was encountered when trying to identify the location of the photography studio that produced this photograph.
“A TEACHER OF MINE”: A PORTRAIT OF MR HENRY LUTSCH
This cabinet card photograph is a portrait of Mr. Henry Lutsch. The reverse of the photograph has an inscription stating “Henry Lutsch, a teacher of mine”. There is no other identifying information. The photographer and the studio location are unknown. Perhaps one of Cabinet Card Gallery’s visitors, will be able to provide additional information. They have demonstrated amazing genealogical detective skills in the past illustrated by their informative comments. The only information that I was able to recover, comes from the 1880 U.S. census. Henry Lutsch was born 1n 1869, in the state of Wisconsin. The head of household, at the time of the census was Jacob Lutsch, who was born in Switzerland. Jacob Lutsch was probably Henry”s father. The “Census Place” was Great Bend, Barton, Kansas. The town of Great Bend was settled in the early 1870’s and located in Barton County, Kansas. Interestingly, this cabinet card was originally purchased from a collector in Kansas. Mr Lutsch is a handsome man and he has an admirable mustache which places him in Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Mustaches (Only the Best). Click on the category to view some amazing displays of facial hair. Thinking about this cabinet card prompts the question as to why a student would want a photograph of his, or her, teacher. Is the answer to the question as simple as that the student wanted a keepsake from their education experience; like modern day students often want a yearbook upon graduation. Another possible explanation is that the student had a crush on the handsome Mr Lutsch, and wanted a portrait of him in order to hang on to their fantasy, just a little longer.
DAPPER MAN WEARING A DERBY IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
A dapper man poses for his portrait at the studio of Lewis C. Fowler, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This gentleman is nicely dressed. He is wearing a long outer coat with what appears to be a velvet collar and satin lapels. He is holding a pair of gloves and has a derby hat on his head. The subject of this photograph’s image possesses an aura of success and importance. Fowler’s photographic studio was located at 12 West King Street, in the town of Lancaster. An advertisement in the Lancaster Board of Trade directory appeared in 1887. A directory of businesses in Philadelphia, indicates that Fowler operated a studio there in 1890. It is unknown whether he conducted businesses in both cities simultaneously. To view other photographs by Fowler, click on the category “Photographer: Fowler (Lewis)”.
A STUDIOUS LOOKING MAN WEARING PINCE-NEZ SPECTACLES IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
The gentleman pictured in this cabinet card has the appearance of a scholarly man. The man’s pince nez eyeglasses, and his beard contribute to his studious look. Pince-nez glasses are a style of spectacle that is supported without earpieces, by pinching the bridge of the wearer’s nose. The name has French origin and this type of eyewear reached peak popularity between 1880 and 1900. The photographer of this cabinet card is H. T. See & H. (I. or J.) Epler. The middle initial of Epler is unclear in the reference where it was found. An advertisement for the See & Epler studio appeared in the Columbia Spectator (1899). The advertisement stated the studio was the “Photographer to Columbia University” and that the firm offered special rates to students. The studio was located in New York City and Saratoga, New York.
MAN WITH A BILLY GOAT BEARD
This cabinet card presents a portrait of a middle aged man with a beard that is reminiscent of a beard that is normally found on a billy goat. The gentleman manages to maintain a distinguished appearance despite his unusual facial hair. The name and location of the photographer responsible for this image, is unknown. To view other notable beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 