George Eastman House, Rochester, NY
Mr. William See, curator for historic images, announced the exciting discovery of a heretofore-uncatalogued image from their extensive photographic collection. The portrait, described as a 6"x8" tintype, may very well be the only extant photo of Mr. Reginald McDonald, great grandfather of the American icon Mr. Ronald McDonald. When asked if this is a positive identification, Will had this to say:
"While we are not yet 100% certain, it appears that this could be Reginald. Unfortunately, the label on the back is badly deteriorated with age and we can't quite read the entire name. The Coat of Arms used on the label certainly looks like the one used by the House of Hamburg. That Reginald was captured on tin is also most appropriate, as Reginald died in 1874 (after choking on a biscuit) at the time when this collodion process was all the rage. Additionally, Reginald is often described in contemporary accounts as a snappy dresser, and is well known both for his unusual hair styling, crystal blue eyes, and for having a ghostly pale complexion. Interestingly, the striped shirt might help us date the image. In 1867, Reginald spent three months in jail over patent infringements involving some secret sauce (a sophisticated blend of ketchup, mayo and relish) used in a local flophouse. This could explain the bewildered expression he wears in the portrait."
When asked if the image quality is so poor due to the age of the plate or the particular photographic process used, he explained:
"Oh no, tintypes make marvelous images when done correctly. The terrible quality can only be attributed to the hack who took the photo. He was totally incompetent. It looks as if he used a homemade camera and an Emile Busch Rapid Aplamat #2, Series D lens at f8. Of course he could also be new to the trade, but my guess is he was just a hack."
A spokesman for the McDonald family noted the strong physical resemblance, and hoped the true identity could be confirmed, adding that the only other known likeness of Reginald they possess is a crude sketch drawn with crayon on a recycled napkin.
Attachment 137388
Originally Posted by alex from holland
"Laundry day....."
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