Ben Dunham writes... The photographer was Thomas Bell, born 1870 in Northumberland. In 1910, he married Ann Mary Lucas, the daughter of landscape painter George Lucas. His brother-in-law was J. Alphege Brewer, who made his fame with very large, color etchings of cathedrals and other historical buildings damaged or threatened during WWI (see my website at www.jalphegebrewer.info (http://www.jalphegebrewer.info)). It is difficult to explain the perspective and level of detail in Brewer's etchings without including the possibility of the use of photographic projections.
From comparing the etchings to surviving postcards and other views from before the war, it seems as if Brewer might have had his own source of photographic images especially taken for this purpose. I'm wondering if Thomas Bell might have collaborated with Brewer in this project.
Does anyone know more about Bell and his studio, and whether any of his photographs of historical buildings (if any) survive?
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Some Thomas Bell magic lantern slides just appeared on ebay (where I purchased them). Here's an example:
photographydatabase.org shows Thomas Bell of
Acton W. -- 23 Avenue Gardens
participating in RPS Annual exhibitions in 1919, 1921, 1921, 1924. Might be worth taking a look at what he exhibited.
There is a considerable archive of Bell photographs at the Armitt Library in Ambleside, where you will also find Bell's pharmacy. The people at the Armitt should be able to help you further. Bruce Graver