Posted By:
davidcyclebackI call all photos by a news service to be news service photos (photos by news services), with wirephotos a specific type of news service photo (news service photo made by wirephoto process).
There's a good chance all are originals, as most Pre-WWII news service photos are. Wirephotos are most common Post WWII. If the images are sharp and clear they're originals. Wirephotos usually produce images with less detail, sometimes somewhat muddy or off. If an image is crystal clear with great detail and vintage and relevant stamps, it's classified as an original.
Also, the wirephoto process didn't get into mass use until 1934 (or 35?), which is why I picked the earlier dated ones as not being wirephotos. Wirephotos from before that time exist but are rare and generally of very poor quality.