Quote:
Originally Posted by Frozen in Time
Just to add a few additional comments to the excellent points Dave has already made. Most "wire photos" are typically second generation images where a first generation photo with the written caption physically attached to the front was placed on a wire photo machine at one agency, "scanned" and transmitted over the phone lines and received at a second news agency and the image printed (line by line) on a second wire photo machine. The resultant wire photo now has the written caption as part of the photo the image of which has been degraded by the process.
AP invented the wire photo process and in general their wire photo images are usually far superior (the scanning lines are much closer together ) than the corresponding wire photos of United Press (Telephoto) or INS (Sound Photo), especially those from the early '50's. Occasionally, you can find the original Type 1 photo with the caption physically attached to the front as well as Type 1 original, first generation photos with a paper caption containing "Telephoto or Sound Photo" at the bottom. Both are Type 1 photos. If you are unsure, just check the image with a 10X loop, even the best wire photos will be comprised of parallel scan lines.
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OK ... I think I understand. So the following photo that includes Ernie Banks looks like a second generation wire photo since the editorial info doesn't look attached, but looks as part of the picture (hope this link of an active eBay auction works):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390602203122...84.m1423.l2649
I have seen a couple wire photo's that look like the editorial info is attached to the front side of the photo, but can't find one now. This seller appears to have a bunch of second generation wire photo's up today. The watermark makes it hard to see the quality of the photo as well. I still haven't found an eBay seller similar to Henry Yee selling photo's right now. But I'll keep looking. Thanks again for all the great feedback!