Anybody Recognize These Guys?

[briangauthier]

I went to that college previously mentioned. I even tried to restart the Cracker Company a couple of times, but to no avail. There just doesn't seem to be any interest unfortunately. Most of my gear came from the store of old Cracker gear still on campus. I believe Joe Blunt or Chris Daley made the coat I have. Much obliged gents! Just a quick update on that long forgotten company...

[csabugler]

Unfortunately, in an economy which has run wild in the recent past, the "vaveat emptor" clause in many juristictions (like Georgia) has enabled dishonest people to lie, cheat and steal with little or no legal repercussions.

Patrick

The "You took my word as documentation on that ?" mess

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

I believe that is Brent Brumagin in the lower left portion of the large, group shot.

[Brent Brumagin]

John is right. This is a picture of the "cracker" company taken at the first outpost event in November of 1999. I have seen three pictures of this company for sale as originals. Once at the Dalton Civil War show about three years ago. I told the individual selling the image that it was not an original and pointed out I was in the image. He told me I didn't know what I was talking about and left it out in the case for $1350.

Brent Brumagin

[Vintage Image Studios]

THREE?????? I have known of a few that made their way onto the market. When I found out about them, I'd get them removed. My images are COPYRIGHTED. Look on the back of them and you'll see it's marked. If someone thinks of selling one of my images as an original, they are first committing a federal crime and a violation of the copyright laws. To get caught selling one of our images as an original will land you in more trouble than it's worth. I had known that the image posted here had been up for sale, before. What were the other two, Brent?

Nice to think some collector thinks my image is worth $1350. Thought it might be more. lol. If ANYONE found a way to make money from my images (legally), MORE POWER TO YOU. Remember though that you own the photo, but I own the copyright. I want a cut.

Most of you know that I am not a rich man. Could have been easily. All I ever needed to do was stop at a few places on my way home and sell my rejects as originals. Face it. Life's a bitch, right now. I am doing about a 20th of the business I once did.
Gas is going up again. Cost of chemicals goes up and the reenactors don't have that extra money to spend. I've got a new wanna-be photographer on the scene that wants to take over every event I do and run me out of business. Don't give a rats ass if someone did show them how to Japan a plate. I'm getting attacked over the Internet. Then there's stuff like this. As I said before, the images we make are by no means any less collectable than the originals. For those who like the idea of committing fraud, I wouldn't think a prison term would be the price you'd be looking for.

Times like these can bring out the worse in people. It can also make the more honorable ones (worth knowing) stand out.

[CompanyWag]

I finally heard back from the owner of this image. Here is his reply:

All I can say is WOW! I didn't realize there was this much activity on the posting. The tintype came in a box lot at a local auction. The box contained several military photographs including three other photos of civil war soldiers. I am beginning to wonder if any of them are legit. I paid $100.00 for the box. I posted one of the other pictures on a different military collecting forum and it didn't raise any suspicion. Thanks for all of the feedback and detective work.

I asked him to post the other images. We'll see.

Paul McKee

[Spinster]

Wow Wendall!! Thank you.

I learned something here. In my family there is a post mortem of a baby boy. Like so many other images, my Grandmother glued it into a black pasteboard albumn. It always grieved my Mother that the image of the dear little face she remembered so briefly had faded to rust.

Images cannot fill empty arms. But they are a comfort still. I am grateful to know that less can go wrong with the memories you've helped us save.

[henway]

Originally Posted by csabugler

Unfortunately, in an economy which has run wild in the recent past, the "vaveat emptor" clause in many juristictions (like Georgia) has enabled dishonest people to lie, cheat and steal with little or no legal repercussions.

Patrick

The "You took my word as documentation on that ?" mess

"A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted" P.T. Barnum

The more expensive an item, the better chance it could be a fake. Watch ebay and you will see it alot.

John DeNoma

[garyjd]

Other than a personal marking what other means does a wetplate photographer use to be able to identify his/her work? I would also take a digital photograph of the image and catalog it along with the place and time of it's creation. A vendor would then have to explain not only the image but why the soldiers in the image are still alive (and looking the same) almost a 150 years or so after the image was supposedly taken. ~Gary

[FloridaConscript]

definately hadley in the pic.