Photograph of the

Robertson Brothers

by an unidentified photographer

Enlarge this photo

  ©

Robertson Brothers

Thank you to Bryan Gournay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, for sending the photograph above on 18 October 2006.

Bryan wrote:

Great Grandfather Robertson

"Attached is a photo of my great grandfather David Robertson, on the right, and his brothers.   I would guess between 1905 and 1910  (or perhaps a little later:  See Bryan's comments below).

There's no photographer's name on the back, but it looks very like a studio shot.

It also looks very staged and not taken by someone's Brownie. Would photographers' studios have provided a choice of settings like this?"

Bryan Gournay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland:  October 18 + 19, 2006

Photographers' studios certainly provided a range of backdrops and furniture, but the photograph above is not typical of other studio photos that I have seen from this period.

The edge of the floorboards at the foot of the picture also looks rather odd.  I wonder if this photo  might have been taken on a stage, somewhere.

    -  Peter Stubbs

Bryan e-mailed me on October 19 with the following further comments below.

Bryan refers to his grandfather living in Piershill in 1915.  Perhaps the photographer might have been Alex Roberts. 

His studio, Piershill Studio, was at Jock's Lodge, Piershill from 1912 until 1931 He produced many studio portraits there over that period.  Most of those that I have seen have been printed as postcards.

Rose Street Dairy !

"There's no doubt that the photo would have been taken in Edinburgh.  My great grandfather never left he city. He was born at the family's dairy in Rose Street, would you believe, where the old John Menzies red sandstone building stands now between Hanover Street and Frederick Street.

Around 1880, the family lost their herd to some disease, and were plunged into instant poverty."

Possibly a Later Photograph

"Looking again at the photo, I think he is a bit older in it than I first thought. He was born in 1877, which would make him 37 when the first World War started. He had two or three much younger brothers, one of whom could be the chap at the back in the naval uniform."

Leith, Restalrig, Piershill

"The family lived and worked in the Leith and Restalrig area. I know my great grandfather lived at Piershill in 1915, which might give a clue to which photographer they used."

Bryan Gournay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland:  October 19, 2006

Question

Can you throw any light on where and when this photograph might have been taken?    If so, please e-mail me.

Thank you.  -  Peter Stubbs