1932 photos of Seoul, Korea

[Walter Ulreich]

Found recently four photos showing Seoul scenes from a World Cruise with the 'Resolute' World Steamer in 1932. All photos are out of an album, remains of the album pages are still on their back. All are 128 mm in length and 102 mm in width (including frame), in good condition and by an unknown photographer.

As they are considerable sharp, I assume they are taken with an at least medium format camera and a wide angle lens. I wonder which camera equipment that could have been in 1932? Somebody who could afford a 143 days long World Cruise in 1932, could own a top camera equipment at that time too.


first example:

crop:

second example:

crop:

The scans are not as sharp as the originals, although scanned with 600 dpi, the maximum resolution of my Canon 9000F.

The whole story on the photos you will find here: http://walterulreich.blogspot.kr/2014/05/world-cruise-1932.html

Any ideas on camera and lens?

 

[Solinar]

What a remarkable find. My guess is that those may have been contact prints, possibly from 4x5 sheet film.

With regards to lifestyle - South Korea has progressed a couple of centuries since those photos were made.

Best Regards,

 

[lynnb]

Nice to see these in their own thread, Walter. Maybe someone reading this will be able to fill in more details.

 

[VinceC]

Very nice. Agreed that the resolution well exceeds 35mm. Thanks for sharing.

 

[markwatts]

Walter,

Fascinating. Thank you.

 

[shadowfox]

Walter, shared your writing on my Facebook.
Thanks for your effort. These are fascinating.

 

[burancap]

These were incredibly interesting!

So much so, that I *Googled* a bit ... might your unknown photographer be: Mary Smith?

NOT SAFE FOR WORK: http://www.chinasmack.com/2009/pictures/photos-1932-hong-kong-shanghai-beijing-asia.html

 

[Colin Corneau]

That time period wouldn't rule out 35mm but would make it more unlikely; the sharpness and quality of the prints also does likewise.

+1 for 4x5 or perhaps 2x3 film...

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

These really are an interesting find. They show that yesterday's snapshot will become tomorrow's historical document.

 

[kermaier]

These were incredibly interesting!

So much so, that I *Googled* a bit ... might your unknown photographer be: Mary Smith?

NOT SAFE FOR WORK: http://www.chinasmack.com/2009/pictures/photos-1932-hong-kong-shanghai-beijing-asia.html

The numbers and writing on the prints appears to be in the same hand -- I'd say you're right!

 

[goamules]

It was probably a kodak 620 or 120 roll film camera. That would explain the aspect ratio being almost square. Those shots look hand held, not a 4x5 on a tripod.

 

[Solinar]

It was probably a kodak 620 or 120 roll film camera. That would explain the aspect ratio being almost square. Those shots look hand held, not a 4x5 on a tripod.

Kodak 620 was introduced in 1932. So, I don't know what the availability of a new film format would been in distant Asia. My guess is that Kodak Autographics would have been more popular on the distant shores of the Far East.

http://www.vintagephoto.tv/autofilm.shtml

Best Regards,

 

[sjgslack]

Fantastic 🙂

Can't see why they're not safe for work though

These were incredibly interesting!

So much so, that I *Googled* a bit ... might your unknown photographer be: Mary Smith?

NOT SAFE FOR WORK: http://www.chinasmack.com/2009/pictures/photos-1932-hong-kong-shanghai-beijing-asia.html

 

[burancap]

Fantastic 🙂

Can't see why they're not safe for work though

Well, I thought I'd err on the conservative NATGEO NSFW side... 😉

 

[Robert Lai]

Fantastic images!
A real shame to realize that in a few years all of it was going to be blasted into oblivion, and many of these people killed by the Japanese invasion. My grandparents were in Burma during that time, and my wife's were in Singapore before and during the war. A terrible time that they didn't want to talk about before they died.

 

[Walter Ulreich]

Wow, many thanks burancap. Definitely it is Mary Smith, same numbering, same handwriting. What a find, never expected to find the name of a photographer on a World Cruise with some 400 travellers in 1932. Well done!

I again measured the photos, the exact area of the photo without frame is 92 mm (3 6/8, 3.62 inches) by 116 mm (4 9/16, 4.57 inches). As far I know about film formats, that could approximately fit to Kodak 113 (90 x 120 mm, 3.55 x 4.72 inches). But I do not think those photos are contact prints.

My guess is Mrs. Smith took enough films for here journey from home, so she was not dependend on local suppliers.

Something on my interest in such photos. I live and work in Seoul since half a year and my contract is for three years. I came here with very little knowledge on the country and want to learn about its culture and history. From other occasions I know a good way to learn is to study old photographs. So I started to collect old Korean photographs, which is not easy, because all before 1940 are quite rare and nearly all before 1900 is already in privat or museum collections.

Here you can find some other photos, which I found: http://walterulreich.blogspot.kr/2014/04/korea-old-photographs.html

Still my question for camera and lens, any suggestions? Now it is clear, the photographer is American, so it would most probably be an American product. Which were the American cameras at the beginning of the 1930s, which were able to produce such clear, sharp photo?

Thanks for all your replies,
Walter

 

[markwatts]

Walter,

Most of us came with little knowledge of ROK. It is an amazing country and people. Enjoy your time.

Regards,

Mark