A guess at date, please

[Mary Young]

When do you think this photo was taken? And how old are the boys? http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/scottishagate/?action=view&current=LEWIS-unknownAlfredonleft.jpg
Unfortunately there's no trade name on the picture.
On the back is written "Alfred on the left". My most likely Alfred was born c.1896 in Wales, he was brought up in Glasgow. His only known brother was seven years older.
Don't you love those collars and those shiny boots? :)

[harfin]

When do you think this photo was taken? And how old are the boys? . . . .


Phew! I'd hazard a guess at the 1930's - and ages at 11 to early teens.
I'm intrigued by the way the trouser legs seem to be tucked in. Is it into their socks? That, and the fact they are also wearing ties and the look of the boots almost indicate some sort of quasi military or boys club sort of association.

Good luck
Alan

[Geoffers]

I would estimate 1905-1915, going on the clothing, and background of the photo. Age is difficult, possibly 10 upwards.

Is the photo in a frame?

[Mary Young]

Hi, Alan and Geoffers
Thanks for your input, my apologies for belated reply.
Alas the photo is unframed, no writing, no clues unless you count what my cousin thinks is a tobacco stain on the back!
If one of these boys is my Alfred, the family were working class and would be "dressing up" for the occasion, hence the Eton collars. Perhaps they hoped the trousers tucked into boots would look like plus-fours, rather posh.
I was a child in the 1930s and never saw anyone dressed like that. Consensus of opinion tends to 1910 which would fit my Alfred.
Thanks muchly

[Lenore]

(snip) the family were working class and would be "dressing up" for the occasion, hence the Eton collars. Perhaps they hoped the trousers tucked into boots would look like plus-fours, rather posh.

Hi Mary,

Just a belated commented on the clothing. The boys are wearing knicker-bockers and long socks. Even working class families had their Sunday going to church clothes, though the boy on the left seems to be wearing a cut-down adult jacket. 1910 seems right to me.

Best wishes,

Lenore

[birdlip]

Yes, definitely Edwardian, I would have thought.

[Mary Young]

Lenore and birdlip
Thanks, I had forgotten about knickerbockers.
You have reinforced my conclusion - 1910, and this my ALFRED JAMES LEWIS. born c.1896.
I remember my brothers and myself wearing "cast-downs" during the thirties and forties. It was a rare event to have something new, even for Sunday best!
I wonder whether Alfred James was gassed in WWI. He died age 39 of TB, a night watchman and army pensioner.

[elizabethjones1]

When do you think this photo was taken? And how old are the boys? http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/scottishagate/?action=view&current=LEWIS-unknownAlfredonleft.jpg
Unfortunately there's no trade name on the picture.
On the back is written "Alfred on the left". My most likely Alfred was born c.1896 in Wales, he was brought up in Glasgow. His only known brother was seven years older.
Don't you love those collars and those shiny boots? :)
Hello Mary
I don't think that they are brothers the eyes and ears are very different and I would say,judging from pics of my own boys that they were 11 and 12 ish.Could the background be a stage set? Eliza.

[Ladkyis]

Could they be cousins? The knickerbockers and eton collars are definitely sunday best and the polished boots make this a record of some sort of milestone in their lives. Did they pass an exam perhaps or win a prize - although you might expect to see some evidence of a prize. Perhaps they were brave and did something heroic and had a portrait taken to remember it.
people didn't just have a picture taken for no reason in those days did they? There was always something.

[Peter_uk_can]

Hi Mary. I have a number of similar photos in my collection. I was fortunate enough to have had two great aunts who were able to identify some of the people and the approx dates and even specific dates when they were taken.

From this knowledge I can add some comments about your photo

They are a typical photo studio photograph and can date from the very earliest days of photography. It is also possible that the clothes were provided by the studio. A quick look seems to show that the boy on the right has a rather large shirt and perhaps his boots are not fully laced.

There is also the oddity that causes confusion, when photos like this contain people who are not closely related. The studio costs were approx the same regardless of the number of people and it was known that different families shared the expense by sharing the photo.

There is also the possibility that they are from the same family and the clothes are theirs, even if they are "hand me downs" this was certainly the norm for the years in which this photo was taken and can cause problems with photos of younger children as it is possible to find them dressed in clothes that were perhaps 10 or more years old.
Church on Sunday was an important day for many families and as my great Aunt testified, it was not always to do with religion, it was a guaranteed day of rest and an opportunity to wear their better clothes and finery. It was also a chance for the children to play together, free from the daily chores.
For the teenagers of the day it gave then an opportunity to socialise with those of the opposite sex. For the girls it was important for them to be seen as these were the days when marriage was far different from today..... but that is another topic..

Regards

Peter