EDWARDIANS BY THE SEA DATED 1907 PHOTO Magic Lantern Slide

Description: EDWARDIANS BY THE SEA DATED 1907 PHOTO Magic Lantern Slide From the collection of photographer Ambrose Godfrey Batting ( 1880 - 1971 ) Godfrey's father, Gilbert Batting MPS, ran the family chemist's shop at 98, The New Parade, Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells. A substantial business, there were six assistants and they acted as wholesalers for the other chemist's shops in the town. The shop also dealt in cameras and every kind of photographic and darkroom equipment. When Godfrey was 10 years old his father had an accident and was confined to a wheelchair. From then on, Godfrey and his younger brother Tom helped out as much as they could, until his father died in 1916, when they both took over the shop; Godfrey was then 36. Godfrey and his brother Tom spent the rest of their lives living together as bachelors in a large Victorian house at 69, Upper Grosvenor Road, also in Tunbridge Wells. They were both avid collectors, Godfrey of cameras and photographs and Tom of paintings and antiques. Godfrey was an active photographer as early as 1895 and was still collecting cameras in the 1940s. He had an early interest in using Lumière Autochromes and appears to have followed developments in early colour photography with interest. In 1930 he designed a Focusing Lens Holder, Patent 345102, 1930-1931, with examples and associated paperwork included in this auction. In due course, Godfrey became the Honorary Secretary of the Tunbridge Wells Amateur Photographic Association, later Honorary Vice-President and Honorary Curator of the Tunbridge Wells Photographic Record Section. Photography was the chosen hobby of the well-off local gentry. He knew many of the distinguished members, such as Henry Peach Robinson, Thomas Sims, Francis Smart, Joseph Chamberlain, who assisted Francis Smart in his darkroom, and Ernest Ashton. He also knew Sir David Salomons, a renowned early proponent of domestic electric lighting and the motor car, whose wife was Patroness of the Association in the 1920s. It held regular meetings at the various grand houses of the members in Tunbridge Wells, such as Bredbury, which belonged to Francis Smart. After dinner they would have lectures with shows of lantern slides. Godfrey and his brother were very advanced in their ideas and believed in 'natural ' cures rather than chemicals. They were also very prescient in their dislike of modern inventions, such as washing-up liquid, that they said would kill all the fishes in the rivers. Although they had a bathroom in the house they believed hot baths were bad for you and washed every day with a sponge and cold water. In short, they were classic, well-educated Victorian eccentrics. The slide is approximately 8.2cm X 8.2cm or in inches 3.23" X 3.23" ← ← ←← ← Our shop has over 25000 photographic slides in it - please take a look for similar images← ← ← Ref L433 E30 Please be aware that as the slide can be photographed both sides the image may be reversed in error *** International buyers please see my shop front for discounted combined postage rates ***** Please see our positive feedback about our packaging from our many worldwide customers . We provide a bespoke packing service for all orders and for extra security high value slides as well as 3 or more slides are double boxed as standard. See photo 3.

Price: 15 GBP

Location: Cornwall

End Time: 2024-12-10T07:24:17.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.68 GBP