BS: Can anyone ID this man?

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Helen
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 06:17 PM

Kendall,

I immediately thought he was a composer, too. I had a bit of a Google on the image search for composers' portraits but no-one stood out. I feel I will know the name when he finally is identified.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 06:14 PM

I'm pretty sure it's Elvis.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 05:00 PM

Here's a page full of composers who lived from 1820-1895. The nose looks like E.T. Paull, but several others on the page are also possibilities. My first thought on seeing the photo was Mark Twain, but the nose is wrong. (It's usually a clear indicator of identity, and only gets "moreso" with age...)

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 04:51 PM

Jim Dixon, it doesn't matter how well I read, I say again, I know this face and I will know his name when I hear it.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: olddude
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 04:30 PM

Ahab ... right before the whale nailed him ...

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: GUEST,The Length
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 03:59 PM

Hey, you will never know who this guy is, it is just a standard studio cabinet portrait, hundreds, if not thousands of these appear on ebay each year, all of them will remain anonymous.

Maybe this guy owned the Victrola, big deal. Maybe the Victrola was sold at an estate sale and some kid stuck the picture down the side of it.

All this, he looks like Jack or maybe Chuck, truth is, he could look like anyone you want him to, even your old granddaddy.

The guy maybe owned a liquor store or was a doctor, who knows. Bury him again in the Victrola and let him rest in peace.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: pdq
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 03:17 PM

John Henry Brown has larger ears, a balder head and a high bridge nose.

Their expression is similar but he is not the Mystery Man.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 03:03 PM

lokat john henry browns eyes they are the same as yer wan

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 02:22 PM

TAKING away the clothes might be even more interesting. He might have a tattoo or something.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 02:15 PM

Why does he have to be celebrity? I would at first discovery think it to be a photo of family member of or actual owner of the victrola. Talking about the clothes is way more interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 02:08 PM

I guess I cross-posted with Rapparee.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 02:07 PM

Kendall: You don't read carefully, do you?

George Frederick Root
Nicholas de Giers
John Henry Brown
Frederich Engels
all lived from 1820 to 1895.

I haven't identified Augustus Morris and John Sharpe, but I imagine Rapparee has determined that they lived from 1820 to 1895, and that's why he suggested them.

However, Wikipedia has pictures of the first 4, and I think they can all be eliminated based on their looks. See if you agree.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 01:56 PM

Nope. My recent suggestions, including Root and Engels, lived and died in that time frame.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 01:54 PM

john henry brown

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 01:39 PM

I'm so sorry, Max. I hope you find another real soon.

Folks, keep it in mind that he lived from 1820 to 1895. That eliminates all of the suggestions so far.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: open mike
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 12:37 PM

Sorry to hear that you were laid off, Max.
Too bad the newspaper is not visible in the foto...
we might be able to find some info on time or place...

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 12:19 PM

Perhaps it is a morning coat.

I don't know how that style coat drapes when one is seated. It does not appear to me to have the "university" or angled sloped front as above link shows. Though as the article on link above states there was some mixing of Frock and Morning coat styles going on by the 1850s.

Fascinating speculations this thread. I love studying costume.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Max
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 11:50 AM

Hmmm. Ran it through some hi-tech reverse photo searches with no results. I isolated the picture from kendall's shot, if that helps anyone or anything. (got laid off yesterday and apparently have too much free time)

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 11:34 AM

That was a morning coat, not a frock coat, which was even-tailed all round like an indoor overcoat, not cutaway at waist but tailed like that in the picture.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 11:32 AM

Not Walt compare the eyelids (space between brow and eye) is much bigger on Walt.

I would say not Bell as wrong period of clothes given age of man in Kendall's photo. Besides Bell's forehead much longer and hair curlier / frizzier.

Man in Kendall's photo is dressed in Victorian gentleman clothing as shirt collar, silk waistcoat (see pattern) and pocket watch chain indicate. Took me some time to source that coat but I found this which might explain it Victorian frock coat? The way the front of subject's coat is not bunching up as he sits, I suspect it is short in front.

Men of a certain class tended to dress in weekday (business) best for photos. And if they deigned to have photo taken then they could afford to be dressed in the fashion of the day and usually did.

Just my take.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 10:27 AM

Any pub in a folk festival would be liable to have a bunch of possibles...

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: olddude
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 10:23 AM

Mozart, yah that's it

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 09:27 AM

John Henry Brown?
Augustus Morris?
John Sharpe?
Frederich Engels?

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 09:23 AM

Nicholas de Giers (Nikolay Karlovich Girs)?

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 09:15 AM

George Frederick Root?

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: kendall
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 08:56 AM

I will know the name when I hear it.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 08:48 AM

Ask a silly question...
The photo was in the victrola when I purchased it at a yard sale on Long Island. I assumed it was of the man who originally owned the victrola. It is not Robert E Lee or Walt Whitman and it is definitelt not Kendall.
Maybe Bob Dylan????

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 08:37 AM

All are wrong so far. Of course I checked the back! He was born in 1820 and died in 1895.

I too believe he is a composer and I know I've seen that face before. It's driving me SANE!

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 04:33 AM

OK Dan - I confess. I posted the photo of myself to Jacqui and got her to hide it in the victrola - just to confuse the old devil (Kendall, that it). I can see it worked only too well...

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 04:19 AM

Further to Guest of 12.49 a.m: that looks more like music manuscript in left hand than any other sort of reading matter, doesn't it?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 01:14 AM

A friend of mine who knows quite a lot about historical clothing (she sews costumes for re-enactors, historical site guides, etc.) says "between 1905-1912, most likely. The watch chain is a little older."

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 12:49 AM

If the photo was found in a gramophone then it is likely to be of a composer, musician, conductor, singer, bandleader or some such. It is definitely not Robert E. Lee or Walt Whitman.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: GUEST,Josepp
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 12:29 AM

Thought it might have been Elisha Gray but I guess not. Gray is the true inventor of the telephone and the founder of Western Electric which was originally called Gray & Barton Co. He also built the first true synthesizer in the 1870s and used it to invent "streaming."

http://history.graybar.com/images/1844-1925/1901_2.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 09 Sep 11 - 12:04 AM

It looks to me a lot like the missionary guy who was convertin' the heathen on the West coast of Central Africa back when I had just had took up work with the White traders in the early 20s. Reverend Creach was his name, Josiah Creach, and he was an okay guy as far as I could see. He was with the Presbyterian Church. He said we were all God's children and he never showed no prejudice against apes at all in that respect, so I gotta say he had my respect. Last I heard, though, he went into the interior of the country, got captured by some hostile Natives, and was cooked and et by them.

Damn shame. The same thing has happened to more than a few of my own relatives over the years. It's a jungle out there.

- Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 11:17 PM

I picked up the date (1870) at Wikipedia, my bad. Should have double checked. But I still think it's Lee.

Here's a portrait and another portrait.

Kendall, you may have a very important personal portrait of Lee there, so treat that photo with care.

Has it dawned on anyone to turn it over and see what it says on the back?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 11:00 PM

Bobert: "This photo is way after Lee... I'd date it closer to 1900 based on the clothes..."

But, he isn't going to tell you where he bought them!
(wink!)

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 10:40 PM

I even put up a movie of who it is! Geez, don't you folks know Father Christmas when you see him?

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 10:10 PM

Listen, ya'll... It ain't me...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: olddude
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 10:02 PM

Bobster in his sunday going to meetin cloths

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Ed T
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 09:26 PM

It could be Walt Whitman, not that there is anything wrong with that.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 09:23 PM

Lets get real here, folks...

There was a time when people wanted these photos taken of themselves looking like they were kings or generals or barons or...

Back before my "Betty Ford" days I was a scavenger... I found (and still have) lots of pics like this... I mean, ordinary folks lookin' like kings or generals or barons...

This photo is way after Lee... I'd date it closer to 1900 based on the clothes... No matter... I doubt if anyone here is going to identify it...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 09:07 PM

I think he's the in this movie.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 08:47 PM

I axed Virgil Cain and he axed his wife ("there goes Robert E. Lee!")

It's him fer sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: kendall
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 08:31 PM

He lived from 1820 to 1895. It's none of the ones suggested.

Possibly a composer?

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 08:23 PM

I think the sense of recognition may be due to a close resemblance to a current film/TV actor whose name escapes me. Not someone really well-known, but one of those guys who shows up in lots of films in lesser roles.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: olddude
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 08:21 PM

Ok, so I save it asked my wife do you know this guy ... her immediately reply was, "Hey where did you get the great photo of Robert E. Lee" It was when he was the "chancellor or something of Virginia Univ 1890's" whatever she rattled on with. She is a civil war expert .. teaches it .. writes and publishes it ...

I have to go with my wife, she is too darn good with this stuff.

Go to the National Archives smithsonian and email a copy to them, they will tell you for sure. Then you can make big bucks on it

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: olddude
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 08:02 PM

Will Fly .... that's it ... you sly dog Will making and old picture and hiding it in Kendall's machine. By the way Captain, ain't it about time ya upgraded your music box ... I mean it may have been state of the art back in the day, but there is better sound producing equipment today there is yah

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: GUEST,The Length
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 07:49 PM

The guy who sleeps outside Walmart in Greensboro NC.

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: olddude
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 07:44 PM

Whitman I am still stuck on Whitman
walt again

Subject: RE: BS: Can anyone ID this man?
From: Ed T
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 07:39 PM

Here are some more clues (since there is no reason to believe he is famous), what he may look like in other profiles.

preparing for bed

At the gym