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In one of his regular
'Notes from the North' columns in the British Journal of Photography,
in 1875, J Nicol described one of George Washington Wilson's visits to
Edinburgh. He wrote:
"During the past few
weeks, the citizens of "Auld Reekie" [Edinburgh] have been "much
exercised" by the appearance of a new style of cab which was being
driven about in various parts of the city, and stopping from time to time
in some of the most unlikely places if the picking up of "fares" were the
driver's object.
In general outline, it
was not unlike an ordinary cab, but instead of a door and a window at each
side windows only were there, the door being at the back; and
altogether there was a lightness about the turn-out that could not fail to
attract observation.
As usual, opinions
differed widely as to what it really was, but the experienced photographic
eye could hardly fail to detect a photographic appearance about it
inducing a desire to make the acquaintance of its owner.
This was not a difficult
thing to accomplish, for any one who chose to watch the vehicle for a
short time soon recognised the jolly, genial, good-natured face of George
Washington Wilson, of Aberdeen, emerge from round the corner, with his
slide under his arm, and at once perceive that he had, for a time at
least, abandoned the little tent in which, on his knees, he had so long
worshipped at the photographic shrine.
To get into a chat on
his favourite art with "GWW" is the easiest possible matter; for
although he is really a busy man, he is never in a hurry, and is always
ready and wiling to give a bit of advice or enjoy a little fun.
The new dark room must,
to a man like him, be of immense advantage - in the saving of time, if of
nothing else - as whenever he has exposed his plate, he can jump in,
inform the driver from whence the next picture is to be taken, and carry
on the process of development while the journey is in progress.
Mr Wilson spent some
weeks in Edinburgh, and already we have the result in a volume, very
recently published, of "Edinburgh and its Surroundings", which just
appears in the nick of time, when tourists do most abound.
Of the merits of the pictures, I
need say nothing, as it is probable the Editors may find the volume on the
"editorial table".
All who are acquainted
with Mr Wilson's work - and I suppose that includes every man and woman of
culture in the country - will easily understand that, both as regards
technical excellence and pictorial selection, every picture is a perfect
gem.
[BJP: 23 June 1875, p.357]
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