Nerdiest To-Do List Ever

1. Ship some spit to 23 and Me for an ancestral genetic work-up. I've become a fan of Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s TV show "Finding Your Roots" and his part good old genealogical footwork, part scientific approach. By the way, that's my mom in the photo. And she would probably like me to say that this was after I was born.

2. Take a free class from a prestigious university at Coursera. I signed up for Basic Behavioral Neurology from Penn State. I'm excited. Doesn't start until July. I'm already prepping people to call me Dr. come August.

3. Build this DIY Third Hand. I'll never do it.

Vintage Photography Sunday

Found a scrapbook from Weimar-era Germany this weekend. In it were photographs from the Pressa Koln (Cologne) Exhibition of 1928. The international exhibition was a showcase for media and graphic design. One of the images is of a sculpture by Michail Plaksin and El Lissitzky done for the exhibition. I found a similar image, but mine seems to have been taken inside, and has the initials "Ka" on the front.

Happiness Aids Digestion

From Design Reference

WWI Photographs

From WWI Set

I recently acquired a set of 45 WWI images from an estate sale right around the corner from my house. They are actual photographs, but seem to be some kind of souvenir set, although any wrapper or box is long gone. They're small – 2.75 x 1.625 – almost like a cigarette card, but these have no printing or writing on them except for the handwritten descriptions on the front. They're pretty interesting, so I thought I'd scan in and post a few every now and again. If anyone has any info on these sets, please comment and let me know. By the way, "Boche" is slang for a German soldier.

Back in NYC, Part II

Ahh, SB's photos transported me back to the many other fine foods I ate in NYC. So finally here's part deux.

Peels – Started the day off right with breakfast from Peels. I had the "Ironsides" which is cheese grits, greens and two eggs cooked in a little cast iron dish. As I remember, SB had the succotash with poached eggs. Both were awesome. And good coffee.


Sugiyama – This hit the holy trinity of a great meal: great company, great atmosphere, great food. We both got the Chef's choice 6-course kaiseki dinner which "beautifully presents the finest seasonal ingredients to emphasize the elements of color, shape, flavor and texture. Each dish of this multicourse meal is carefully chosen and arranged to enhance your dining pleasure." I can't deside if I should try to list everything we ate. Maybe that would just be annoying. The style of dining seems fairly formal, but the waitstaff and the general atmosphere were really relaxed and fun. Homerun.


This 'n' That Vintage Jewelry – OK, not food, but worth stopping in. They advertise a little bit of everything, but the whole front of the store is stuffed with great vintage jewelry and that's the reason to go. Here's the Bakelite bracelet case. Drool.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

There are tons of Carte de Visites around, and most are nice portraits but not that interesting. Flip them around though, and sometimes the backs are pretty great – beautiful printing and typography and sometimes a bit of historical info. Click the image to see an enlargement and also a couple more.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a little girl photographed by Sweeny, Jackson, Mississippi wearing a pretty cool daffodil costume. If you click the photograph and go to the album, there's also a shot of the board it's mounted on that has a beautifully embossed figure on it. Couldn't find out much info on Sweeny, so I'll have to do a little more digging.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a portrait taken by "Beadle's Studio, Jackson, Miss." Richard Henry Beadle was a prominent African-American photographer in Jackson starting in 1900. This source says he apprenticed with Elisaeus von Seutter, although another source says von Seutter died in 1900. The Smith Robertson Museum (Sorry, looks like their web site is undergoing some turmoil.) has some of his photo collection and studio equipment on display. From the Museum:

In 1906, he set up a studio in a tent near Roach and Capitol streets in Jackson. Later he moved his studio to North Farish Street where he operated for 54 years. In 1968 Beadle was cited for outstanding leadership by the National Council for Negro Women. In 1977 his work was cited by the heritage committee of Jackson's Bicentennial Committee and in 1980 he was honored with an exhibit of his works by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The exhibit includes vintage cameras, studio equipment and a collection of photos from the Beadle collection.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's another little mystery for this week – a photo montage of pilot, plane and crop dusting action shot. It's stamped "Bryan's Studio, Clarksdale, Miss." on the reverse. Handwritten on the front is "To the World's best. Jack Robinson." I did some research trying to find this famous crop duster or stunt pilot who signs autographs. What I did find is the more famous Jack Robinson, photographer, who grew up in Clarksdale. Check out this signature – it's kinda similar. And he looks a little like the pilot. Maybe the pilot is his father, Jack Robinson, Sr.?

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

For this week, here's a Julia Margaret Cameron-esque 8x10 portrait by an unknown photographer.

Vintage Photograph Tuesday

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a photograph that I've always doubted the authenticity of. The model appears to be wearing an Egyptian style wig and "snakes" of some sort. I think her necklace is made out of lace bobbins. It would seem to be within the genre of art/nude carte de visite. Given the style of the paper mount, with its hard corners and two simple gold lines, that dates it to about 1860-1868. On the back is written: W. Ward Photographer, Richmond, Virginia, Also Army of Northern Virginia, In The Field, which would seem to date this more specifically during the Civil War. Here's my problem, for being almost 150 years old, the paper mount is in immaculate shape. Also, the paper the image is printed on feels a little thick for this era and is shiny almost like a satin or pearl RC paper. I believe it's an old image, but somehow a modern print married to an old backing? Any thoughts out there?

Obsolescence Is Just A Lack Of Imagination

Recently, a friend gave me some vintage cameras. As I was checking them out, I realized one still had a roll of film in it. Naturally, I want to have it developed. My go to place is Film for Classics, a website that's been around for quite a while. The guy not only processes vintage film formats such as 126, 127, 620 and 828, but also purchases new roll film from Kodak, then cuts and spools this film into these sizes. Alas, he no longer sells the film direct but through B&H and Central Camera. And he no longer processes either, but recommends Dwayne's Photo. Dwayne's processes 110, Disc, 126 and 127 film formats at a reasonable price of 9 bucks a roll. However, as I was about to seal up the film in an envelope and send it off, I realized that the film was Kodacolor-X and process C-22. Dwayne's expressly does not process C-22 film. A little Googling revealed Rocky Mountain Film Lab. It appears that RMFL can process just about any old film you send their way including movie film. The C-22 films are $42.50 per roll, and because they wait until they have a batch, the wait time is 6-12 months. But, hey, after sitting in a camera for 40 years or so, what's a few months. My hope is that I'll just forget about it until a surprise arrives at my door.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This is a Wallace Nutting print from 1915 taken at Paul Revere's home in Massachusetts. Nutting largely photographed pastoral country scenes, but also period interiors such as this one. All are hand colored photographic prints, but mass produced. Each print has a studio number written on the back – this is #3580 which seems to be a variation of this one from the Wallace Nutting Library site. It seems to be a fairly extensive site of his work if you're patient enough for it to load. From the site:

Wallace Nutting started taking pictures in 1899 while on long bicycle rides in the countryside. In 1904 he opened the Wallace Nutting Art Prints Studio on East 23rd Street in New York. After a year he moved his business to a farm in Southbury, CT. He called this place "Nuttinghame". In 1912 he moved the photography studio to Framingham, MA. A home he called, "Nuttingholme". In the peak of his business he employed about two-hundred colorist. Only a few of whom were authorized to title and sign his photographs. In fact, Wallace Nutting signed very few of the pictures he sold. Because of the sheer number sold, ten millions by his own account, It would have been difficult in light of ill health and his interest in publishing and furniture making for him to sign them all. This accounts for the various signature styles that can be found. Collectors have learned to recognize an authorized signature as well as Wallace Nutting's own. Signature styles can date a picture and the combination of other elements can authenticate a signature.

Seems that mine was not signed by Nutting himself.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

For this week, here are a couple novelty or souvenir photos with a bull theme.

From Vintage Photographs

This one is a tintype. On the back is handwritten in pencil, "Who would of thought it?" Fun Souvenir Photo Flickr Group here.

By the way, for all you sellers of photographs, if you really must write a price on the back of an image, please, please don't use a pen.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This is page 1 of a photo album showing a young group of boys on a climbing trip in South Korea. In addition to the photos, there are great drawings in white ink throughout the album. Click the image to see in more detail. Dr. Sheeyong Lee was kind, patient and thorough in translating the writing in the entire album for me. In addition to the straight translation there is also some supportive information.

Moving clockwise starting from the drawing in the lower left corner.

1. KWAN-ARK-SAN, A mountain located in Seoul, South Korea. SAN means mountain. In memory of climbing KWAN-ARK mountain. May 3, 1943 (at the age of) 18.

2. From the Northern side (of the Han river), the crystal water trickles down and goes around the beautiful rocks. Up to the sky, snow white clouds form the flowers of Lotus.* Under the heaven, forests are shadowed with the color of fresh green. From the forests, I can listen to the songs of small birds. A bright day in April*, at WOO-EE-DONG.*

*the flowers of Lotus (YON-HWA) – An idiom from Buddhism, symbol of purity, noble and clean mind.
*April (sha-wol) – The author uses the lunar calendar April even though it is May. It seems he emphasizes the romantic and joyful mood by using April which symbolizes the season of spring.
*WOO-EE-DONG – A town in Seoul (?) Characters translate to cow-ear-village.

3. 1947.6.15 On the top of MAN-JANG-BONG. In memory of conquering DO-BONG-SAN MAN-JANG-BONG

4. A continuous rain! To climb ?? mountain which boasts her rich in green leaves and beauty. The weather was not good today. A woodman gave us a tip to find a pathway which was covered with thick green bush. In the picture: Mr. Jung and friend Lee watching dark clouds in gloomy sky. After seeing KUM-RAE-GOOL (KUM-RAE cavern).

5. Autumn! – the season of CHEON-GO-MA-BEE* Autumn! – the breeze of pine trees. Facing the wind, I embrace the golden KWAN-ARK mountain. I climb on horse rock behind ?? which stands very curiously. As seeing all around, I feel dizzy and confused as if there is a cliff near me and a heaven above me. Far away, I can see cloud-covered NAM-HAN mountain. Friend SEO took a snap shot.

*CHEON-GO-MA-BEE – Sky is high, horses are gaining weight. Originally, these words derived from an old Chinese legend. Whenever autumn came, the Northern people (the Hun?) had to prepare to overcome the harsh winter. So they fed their horses during spring and summer and invaded the Chinese border (the Great Wall) in autumn which shows clear sky. Therefore the Chinese always had to enforce their defense when autumn came. To the Northener, autumn was the time to invade to get food and riches. To the Chinese, it was time to alert. In Korea, this idiom is used to describe the beauty of the season. Autumn is the season of nobly high sky, season of abundance, season of philosophy, season of poets, and season of men.

7. The early summer: the green leaves seem like silk texture, irises show their flowers beautifully. On May 3, a happy and joyful day, a lark is singing, willow are hanging by the creek near KWA-CHEON. Going around KWAN-ARK mountain and seeing ??. It is a happy day wandering all around the mountain.

8. In memory of climbing KWAN-ARK mountain.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This photograph is a modern contact print from the original 8x10 celluloid negative taken by Harry Hiatt (Hiatt Photographic Services) at the Jackson, Mississippi Zoo. It shows Monkey Island which was built by the WPA before WWII. At the time of the photograph, it was decked out as a tiny army base. If you click the photo you can see more detail. Monkey Island is still around, but the monkeys have been gone for quite a while. Here's a cool postcard. I think it's time to pay Monkey Island a visit.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

Apparently, this one cotton plant was so productive it warranted taking it to Natchez, Mississippi to be photographed by Norman. Best I can transcribe, this is handwritten on the reverse:

Grown on Property of Campbell & Slocumb near Gilbert, Franklin Parish La. Planted May 5th 1917, no rain until July 20th – variety "Money Maker." Land worked by tenants Ezekiel Moore – 27 bolls on one limb. Has 149 bolls – lots of blooms and unbloomed squares. One of the large lower limbs were torn off by an accident during cultivation, and no bolls were counted p??? – J.S. Campbell.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

I've had this idea for a while to catalogue my antique photo collection. So I'm kicking off Vintage Photograph Mondays. Makes it not so daunting and gives me something to look forward to on Monday mornings. This one is stamped on the back, "Photographed by H. Tarr, Broadway at 53rd St. N.Y., Kindly Give Credit." My guess is it's someone playing dress-up – 1920s-ish judging by the outfit, paper and the font on the back.

Junkin' Finds Hattiesburg

Small Bites #11

I've been saving up some nuggets for a while so here goes:

Here's a cool resource for Graphic Design from the 20s and 30s. It's mostly travel ephemera, but you can search by country and there are sections for advertising and design journals.

Most people use food processors and multitudes of kitchen gadgets these days. But occasionally you have a tedious and lengthy food prep like peeling and chopping apples or snapping the ends off beans where technology fails. And you'd like to watch TV or sit outside while you do it. The solution here from Tomas Kral.

Lots of interesting projects here from Nancy Wu, but if you click on "Humor" you can see her 100% Beef Jerky purse.

I don't often see headwear I like, but the hats and headbands from Muehlbauer are awesome.

If you asked me what Swedish cooking was all about, I wouldn't have a good answer. I'd maybe be embarrassed to say Swedish meatballs. But I recently saw an episode of New Scandinavian Cooking and Tina Nordstrom made some pretty great looking food. Haven't tried it yet, but the Sauteed Cabbage, homemade Mustard, and Apple cocktail with Absolut Vanilla are on my to do list.

Lastly, pictured above is a collage from Carl Kleiner's Everyday Geometry. They're deceptively simple and with beautiful color.