Chickering Cabinet Photo Questions
 

Hi-
I recently acquired the cabinet photo scanned below in a trade with a friend of mine. It is in very rough shape but it appears to be a Chickering photo. Has anyone ever seen a Chickering photo like this? Is the uniform familar to anyone? My guess is that it is just a town team member as I know Chickering was a prolific photographer in Boston for a number of years. However, before I file it in my collection as an anonymous player/team, I figured I would ask. The C on his uniform looks really crude to my eyes, which reinforces my belief it is a town team member. Any thoughts or opinions on this photo are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com

Just going by the scans, it's a genuine Chickering cabinet photo, and I've seen another Chickering baseball cabinet in the same style with the same front stamp.

Thank you, that is great to hear! I wish I knew what local town team or school the uniform belongs to, but I really like it either way.
Thanks again,
Alan

Alan, I've never seen a baseball photograph by Chickering that was NOT the Boston ML team. Meaning that what you have is a tough piece to come across.

Chickering stamps come in many different styles, some with only very slight variations - I have identified four different ones, the one you have being one of the four. To me this is significant, as there were plenty of other Chickering mount stamps, but they were only used for non-sports photos. Some of the variations on the black ones are subtle, but still easy to spot.

If he had used only two mounts (one light and one dark) for sports photos, I might draw the conclusion that for some reason he used special mounts for such photos, but given there are at least four different ones, I think they are simply related to a period when he took such photos - cabinet mount designs were changed often by most photographers and you can sometimes date photos by the mount stampings.

Edited to add: the above isn't taking into consideration the designs on the BACKS of the mounts - those also changed, but I haven't been documenting them.

The other one in this style/color/stamp I saw was indeed of a Boston Beaneaters player, Kid Nichols if I recall correctly. It's in the Library of Congress.

Here are the images I have with that style.

David - I don't have a copy of Nichols, and can't find it by googling. Please send it to me if you have it and I'll update my folder.

Thank you Scott and David again! That is incredible information. I really like the image, and the rarity of the Chickering connection makes it even cooler to me. I had no idea Chickering used that many different mounts for baseball and other images.
Alan

David, you weren't joking when you said you don't read the other posts in a thread :)

Actually, I did read the text of your post before I posted the photo, but your images loaded too late for me to see them until after I posted.

I was incorrect (clearly) in remembering the player as Nichols. My memory wasn't fixed until I cut and pasted the image from wikipedia.

I admit I have the bad habit of skimming through Net54 threads, but will try and correct the error of my hasty ways.

I promise to print out the original Brooklyn CDV thread and read it in the bathtub. Just promise me there is at least one car chase scene.

Not sure why but i laughed my A$$ of reading this post, great stuff!!

Dave and I discussed the Brooklyn cdv thread today, and based on his ignorant questions :) I suggested that he actually start reading threads before posting.

Truth is, he taught me almost everything I know about vintage photography, and I'm the one asking him the questions, not vice-versa.

Until Scott educated me I thought Brooklyn was in California.

General Stafford
 

Here is one I grabbed from ebay the other day. I believe Stafford only played for Boston for part of the 1899 season, so I'm guessing this cabinet is circa 1899.

Attachment 99507Attachment 99508

I was watching that. Nice pick up. Chickering photos have great focus and clarity to them.

Thanks.

This card came with another photographer's studio photo that was id'd in pencil as his wife, so I think it's likely from the Stafford estate.

Stumbled into this thread and thought I would revive it. Here is early 20th Century player from NY.

Here is Martin Bergen from the Boston Beaneaters. He snapped during his career which you read about below.

Couple more Boston Beaneaters along with the team Cabinets from the Chickering Studio

Geez Jay Cee, between these cabinets and the Pioneer cabinets - did you win a cabinet card lottery recently? NNIICCEE!!

Rob M

Great photos. Impressive run of cabinets. I bet the board can figure out who the New York player is.

Win Mercer is the New York Giant player. He pitched for the 1900 Giants. His last name is on the back of the card.

Thanks, Don.

See? I told ya so.

lol

Thanks Rob.. Added the Imperial Cabinet (top left) from 1899, to the group with the recent Heritage auction.

Great cabinet from Heritage - I was bidding as well but dropped out during the extended time. A wonderful addition for your collection!

JC, glad to see there is another copy of Mercer out there. Here is one framed with an identical mount back for display purposes. In the scans the front logo appears blueish, while in person it is a beautiful silver as the angled photo shows.

Attachment 353381

Attachment 353382

Glad you ended up with that one Jim. I saw that one when auctioned and what great condition yours is in!!! Now if memory serves me correctly, Mercer was one of the first players from somewhere to play pro ball. I think Ryan C told me something along those lines at the National 15-20 years ago.