Help with vintage floral detail frame (negatives for printing portraits?)

Signs & fragments

A
Signs & fragments

  • 4
  • 0
  • 34
Summer corn, summer storm

D
Summer corn, summer storm

  • 1
  • 1
  • 33
Horizon, summer rain

D
Horizon, summer rain

  • 0
  • 0
  • 37
$12.66

A
$12.66

  • 6
  • 5
  • 189

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,816
Messages
2,781,255
Members
99,713
Latest member
mikelostcause
Recent bookmarks
0

Sethasaurus

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
96
Format
Medium Format
I just bought these printed portrait frames, which consist of a glass back with a paper print stuck to the front.
They appear to be negatives as the printer's name - "C.E & C Reg" is reversed in the corner of each.
Does anyone recognise or know how these were originally used?
I'm thinking putting one in a frame and doing a contact print, then exposing a photo in the oval or rectangular space.
I haven't done a contact print from paper to paper before but I guess that should work out ok.
!CDN0(8!B2k~$(KGrHqQOKjIE0c5ByOq0BNNzGbUo2!~~_12.JPG


Actually, just came across this:
http://www.stamps-auction.com/merry-christmas-woman-old-postcard-horse-drawn-carriage-for-sale-83656
which is what I'm expecting the final result to be, so I guess I'm on the right track!
 

holmburgers

Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
4,439
Location
Vienna, Austria
Format
Multi Format
I've been watching this because I thought these were pretty cool old frames. Are they opaque though?

The example is exactly what I imagined these would be used for. Any reusults?
 
OP
OP
Sethasaurus

Sethasaurus

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
96
Format
Medium Format
Just did some test contact prints today and they look pretty good. I'm going to make up some masks so I can print portraits into the centre :smile:
 
OP
OP
Sethasaurus

Sethasaurus

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
96
Format
Medium Format
Well, I have a newish scanner that won't talk to my old USB port so I'm stuck for a while..
I have to do things the old-fashioned way for now (including real-life photo-shopping!), but that's ok because I'm having fun in the darkroom.
I can't post 'em unless it's snail-mail :wink:

Actually, the more I look at them, I realise what a good find they are and that I should preserve them.
I'm pretty sure they're circa 1900, as some of them are distinctly art nouveau style and the only other card I've seen lately (from the link above) featured a woman in Victorian dress.
Most of the other "Real photo postcards" don't have this kind of decorative framing.
I see lots of people collect the old postcards, but luckily I've got the photographer's negs that were used to create them!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

pgomena

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
1,391
Location
Portland, Or
This really is a great find. If there are any chips and nicks in the emulsion, use some photo opaque to touch them up. You will be able to do some very cool things with these and a vignette mask of some kind.

Peter Gomena
 
OP
OP
Sethasaurus

Sethasaurus

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
96
Format
Medium Format
Sage,
They're just paper negs, 3.5 x 5.5 in - postcard size. I guess they've been printed on a press.
WIll post some scans as soon as I get my scanner working.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom