Wire Photo Question

[Forever Young]

Great visual reference! Outstanding add... thanks for sharing Lance.

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

There are a couple of short "informational" films that were produced in the 1930's-40's that do a better job of explaining (and more importantly for me, showing) the actual wire photo process. The original "Type 1" news photo is the one you see them attaching to the apparatus on the sending end. The "Type 3" wire photo is what is produced on the receiving end and typically exhibits some slight loss of clarity (though I have seen some very nice ones that you would never have known just from looking at the image) and have the caption embedded in the front image of the photo.

Spot News (1937)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LetlcmqZFyA

Good Neighbors (1944)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aXF0JQWEo

[varsitycollectibles]

Great responses guys. I'm going to dig a little deeper before I decide if I will go with wire photos or originals.

Repsher: Thanks for the link. Bob Gibson is my main PC focus and I would love to see what you have.

I don't know about you fellas, but on a lazy Saturday with not much to do I tend to spend money. So I decided to pick up my first photo. I got it from the seller Repsher mentioned. It's a Chicago Tribune archive photo of Bob Gibson from Game 1 of the 1967 World Series.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280970494623...84.m1423.l2649

[thecatspajamas]

Ben, glad to be able to add something helpful. I must admit that the actual "wire photo" process was a mystery to me for a long time until I ran across a reference to one of those films. When I saw them, it was like the proverbial lightbulb turning on for me. It's really pretty amazing technology for the time when you think about it!

My favorite quote: "...and here is the finished picture, just 8 minutes by wire..."

Can you imagine how long it would have taken to transmit all of the photos used in just a single edition of a newspaper? Let alone the cumulative time to transmit all of the wire photos in any given paper's archives?

[mybestbretts]

You have received some great advise. I might just add that whether it
is a type 1 or 3 it may be the only one, or at least very limited, of that
particular photo. I generally like to look for a photo that catches my eye
or is for instance, the world series, playoffs, etc. Might just be one of the
player horsing around. For the most part though, I try to buy the original photo. One thing I have noticed that relatives or people have bought negitaves of old pictures and are selling them on ebay. They might be nice but totally worthless.

[71buc]

Has anyone attempted to remove editorial marks from photos? I don't mind them when they don't effect the central image. However, I have passed on a number of otherwise beautiful photos. If you have removed them how sucessfull have you been, did you damage the photo, and what process did you utilize?

[mybestbretts]

Hi Mike:

I haven't tried it but have heard that they (I believe) just wipe off.

[mybestbretts]

I look forward to the responses to this

[repsher]

Originally Posted by 71buc

Has anyone attempted to remove editorial marks from photos? I don't mind them when they don't effect the central image. However, I have passed on a number of otherwise beautiful photos. If you have removed them how sucessfull have you been, did you damage the photo, and what process did you utilize?

Mike, I've used PEC-12 emulsion cleaner to remove editorial markings with great sucess. I use small cotton wipes and also wear cotton gloves while doing the work.
I've only had it not work once, where there was an "X" over the face and it would not remove. I've never damaged a photo.

Links to what I've used :

http://www.adorama.com/CHPEC12.html

http://www.adorama.com/AM61002.html

http://www.amazon.com/PEC-PAD-Lint-F.../dp/B0001M6K24

[71buc]

Thanks for the great information I will give it a try.

Originally Posted by repsher

Mike, I've used PEC-12 emulsion cleaner to remove editorial markings with great sucess. I use small cotton wipes and also wear cotton gloves while doing the work.
I've only had it not work once, where there was an "X" over the face and it would not remove. I've never damaged a photo.

Links to what I've used :

http://www.adorama.com/CHPEC12.html

http://www.adorama.com/AM61002.html

http://www.amazon.com/PEC-PAD-Lint-F.../dp/B0001M6K24