Davis Brothers

and

Davis & McDonald

Questions

1.   Who were the Davis Brothers?

2.   Who were Davis and  McDonald in the Davis & McDonald partnership?

3.  Was McDonald the same person as Mr McDonald, Photographer and Bird Stuffer who had photographic rooms in Dunfermline (1856-57)?

Reply

1.

Norman McBeath

Learmonth, Edinburgh

Thank you to Norman McBeath for allowing me to reproduce these two photos.

Norman wrote:

"Here are two photos of a small Daguerreotype that I have just acquired:"

Norman McBeath, Learmonth, Edinburgh:  2 February + 6 June, 2013

Photograph

©

Case

©

Comments

Studio Address

I was interested to see the address on the case of this photo.  That's the first time that I've seen any reference to University Photographic Portrait Gallery.

Studio Dates

Davis Brothers appeared in the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directories with a studio address of 59 South Bridge, but only for the years 1861-63.  This seems a little late for producing Daguerreotypes. 

Most photographers wishing to produce this style of photo would have moved on to the cheaper and easier to produce Ambrotypes during the 1850s.   Is this one, perhaps, an Ambrotype.

Prices

The message on this case reads:

However, it makes no mention of what type of portrait Davie Brothers would provide for 6^D

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: 13 June, 2013

Reply

2.

Norman McBeath

Learmonth, Edinburgh

Thank you to Norman McBeath for replying to my comments above.

Norman wrote:

Davis Brothers' Portrait

    ©

"I suspect you're right about it being an Ambrotype. It was sold as a Daguerreotype but it didn't look like one to me. I'll look a bit further into this and let you know"

Norman McBeath, Learmonth, Edinburgh:  June 13, 2013

Reply

3.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Thank you to Allan Dodds who also replied.

Allan wrote:

Davis Brothers' Portrait

    ©

"Yes, it's an Ambrotype!"

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  June 14, 2013

Reply

4.

James Morley

London, England

Thank you to James Morley who added

Another Ambrotype

"I've just acquired this Ambrotype.  The photo was taken at Davis Brothers' studio at 59 South Bridge, Edinburgh.

It's a landscape format portrait of an older man.  He's a great character, but he looks rather unimpressed!

The photo is similar to the Ambrotype at the top of this page.  It has exactly the same backstamp."

James Morley, London, England:  December 13, 2014

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