Oct 23

Wijnkooper B. Schermer & Zoon

Wijnkooper B. Schermer & ZoonScan from a 120 negative found in a thrift store in Doetinchem (NL). ‘Wijnkooper B. Schermer & Zoon’ still extists today, under a slightly modified name.

wijnbouquet.nl says:
B. Schermer & Zoon is known since July 24, 1782 as distiller and liqueur maker. The grandfather of Barend’s wife (Jan Bent) started to trade in 1730 in ‘distilled waters and spirits’; as done on the same location in Hoorn for 215 years. Since 1997 the authentic housing has been changed for another monumental building just outside the centre of Hoorn, at the Geldelozeweg 47.

Schermer is one of the oldest independent distilleries of Holland. With centuries-old traditional recipes, all products in the distillery are being traditionally produced. The present stills are already in use as of the beginning of 1800. The cauldrons and pitchers in which the herbal-bags hang to extract the bitters, are at least of the same age. But of course the production materials are up-to-date and meet all HACCP standards.

After 8 generations of Schermer, Paul and Joke Blom took over the company in 1982, where Paul was employed since 1965. They chose to maintain the original recipes and the old-established name Schermer, which holds a great reputation regional, national and international. The present name of the company is Schermer Wine buyer & Distiller (Schermer Wijnkoper – Distillateur).

Of course, there is no way of knowing if the boy in the picture is a ‘Schermer’, but is is a nice photo to post anyway,

Cross-post (NL): Secretarisvogel

Mar 28

‘Jannie’

Jannie
Some pictures are too nice to keep tucked away in a box or album. This one, 5.5 by 8.5 cm, was found in a thrift store in Doetinchem (NL). Handwritten text in pencil on the back: ‘Jannie’.

Mar 23

Cellofix-Postkarte D.R.P. Nr. 716323

Cellofix-Postkarte (front)Cellofix-Postkarte (back)
A damaged picture of an unknown lady with a baby. The imprint on the back says:
Cellofix-Postkarte
D.R.P. Nr. 716323

Cellofix-Postkarte (back, detail)

On the “The Postcard Album” (TPA) site, Photo Paper Trademarks, Logos and other imprints page, this type of imprint is explained:

Anything found on an older postcard can be valuable for research. On real photo cards, either amateur or photographer work, you often find imprints which were not added by the photographer but already part of the pre-printed “Post Card” address side supplied by the photo paper manufacturer. This goes so far that even the film brand and / or camera lens used is mentioned.

I have noted the work of US collectors who carefully researched many of the photo paper trademarks. Names / initials (eg. AZO, ARTURA, VELOX, PMC etc) are usually found in the stamp box position. I am going to concentrate on old German companies here. Ignore the big firms like Agfa, Kodak who dealt worldwide. Names that are self-explaining, on which information is found quite easily. The trademarks in question are found on postcards done by amateurs as well as commercial photographers, with a limited number of copies printed. These however, were often mailed worldwide to relatives, friends etc.

This is follows by trademark-specific test. About Cellofix:

The Cellofix trademark was registered for Kraft & Steudel, Fabrik photographischer Papiere, Dresden in 1907. See also title illustration. It was a photo paper especially for amateurs. This business was set up in 1894 and was around until late 1933 bankruptcy). Another popular Kraft & Steudel brand was named “Sidi”. Cellofix postcards are quite often seen.

So, we may conclude the photo probably originates from Germany and was roughly made between 1907 and 1933.