Developing and Printing

J F Duthie

Thank you to Tom Bigley for allowing me to reproduce these images of a developing & printing wallet used by the Edinburgh photographic dealer, JF Duthie.

JF Duthie was a Member of Edinburgh Photographic Society in the early-1900s, and EPS President for two years from 1908. Here is a photo of him when he was an EPS Council Member in 1903.

JF Duthie

JF Duthie - Professional photographer

This photo was taken by FP Moffat, and appeared on the back of the menu for the 3rd EPS Annual Dinner in November 1903.

JF Duthie was based at 13 South St David Street from 1903 until 1940. He advertised his business there as:

- Photographic Dealer throughout that period, and also as:

- Optical Limelight Lanternist (1904-19)

- Enlarging (1924-30)

- Developing & Printing (1925-40).

I don't know when, during this period, the developing & printing wallet above might date from.

I was surprised to see that the wallet referred to the prices for making lantern slides. Lantern slides were popular in the late-19th century, but lantern slide shows became less common in the 20th century, once the cinemas had begun to open.

Perhaps somebody with a good knowledge of the prices that used to be charged for making prints might be able to suggest an approximate date for this wallet.

JB Watson

Incidentally, Tom Bigley also sent me images of another wallet that he found together with the one above when he was clearing his late Aunt's effects. It came from Edinburgh Opticians and Photographic Dealer, JB Watson of 3 Frederick Street and 13-15 Shandwick Place, and is similar to this one, dating from 1934-38 that I added to the EdinPhoto web site some time ago:

Acknowledgement: Tom Bigley, Craigentinny, Edinburgh: 28 September 2015