Alexander Asher
was born in Elgin in 1837. [Census:1881].
He
began his photographic
business in Dunfermline in 1862.A partnership was established with
John Drummond of Dunfermline
operating studios in Dunfermline and Alloa from Dec 1863 to Nov
1864.[IN:SB],
[FFHS]
In Dec 1864 Alexander Asher moved to Edinburgh
and became: 'Photographer
and Portrait Painter'.
He
advertised:
Advert
"Portraits
enlarged from cartes up to life size
and finished in oils, water colors
or chalks.."
It was to
be about another 20 years before John Drummond came to Edinburgh
to open his photographic business
Alexander
Asher's comments on Studios in 1868
Alexander Asher referred to his studio
during a discussion of a paper entitled "On
the Construction of Glass Houses for Portraiture"
Studios
"Mr
Asher said that while he agreed with the desire of Mr MacKay to have a
large house, that was not always practicable, especially in large
towns.
He liked, for his own purpose, a long house with a ridge
roof, one side of which was dark and the ability to work at either
end. He thought this left nothing to be
desired."