Interesting Old Photographs
Posted by admin | Posted in Still photographs | Posted on 29-09-2009
Tagged Under : auto, auto polo, bathing machine, body ink, funny, history, ice auto, ice race, ice racing, odd, photograph, slave, slavery, tatooo, weird
Here are some of my favorite old photographs, chosen because they are strange and unique.
No date given - Bathing Machines, Scheveningen
The bathing machine was a device, popular in the 19th century, to allow people to wade in the ocean at beaches without violating Victorian notions of modesty. Bathing machines were roofed and walled wooden carts rolled into the sea. Some had solid wooden walls; others had canvas walls over a wooden frame.
The bathing machine was part of sea-bathing etiquette more rigorously enforced upon women than men but to be observed by both sexes among those who wished to be “proper”.
Especially in Britain, men and women were usually segregated, so nobody of the opposite sex might catch sight of them in their bathing suits, which (although modest by modern standards) were not considered proper clothing to be seen in.
between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915 - Lanander, Chi. - Sweden
I don’t think I’ve added any from this series. Auto polo went on from about 1904 to about 1915, if I’m remembering my research correctly. There were several matches, one in St. Louis, one in Madison Square Gardens. There’s not much online about this, but there’s a great NY Times article here. I strongly agree with the writer in that they would have a difficult time recruiting people for this sport…. Not to be outmatched, we come to:
Taken sometime in the 1910′s, this is an ice auto from Deluth. Wonder what happens when they lean back?
“1910-1915 - Licking blocks of ice on a hot day.” Refreshing, and sanitary!
Apparently used to listen for incoming planes. And to make new recruits look silly.
1907 (?) - Tatoos or body ink
1911 - German stowaway. This photo came from a Ellis Island collection.
The above image was taken in 1889 after the Johnstown Flood, and demonstrates that sarcasm is not a new thing.
Early waterboarding…. “1861-1872 - Man lies on cot under bed cover, his bandaged head rests in wooden apparatus with straps designed to elevate and cool head while allowing moisture from bandages to drip in basin below head”.
I daresay it would have worked on me. “Oh, How I Love The Old Flag. Rebecca, A Slave Girl from New Orleans. [Propaganda portrait of Rebecca, A Slave Girl from New Orlean...] (1864)”
______________
I think all of these came from the Prints & Photographs Online Catalog from the Library of Congress. Great stuff in there. Mostly public domain.