The Iron Mill

Buildings, Documentary, Industry, Postal Photographic-Print Exchange Clubs, Smoke, Transportation

Dimensions

Image Dimensions: 15.7 x 23.8 cm image tack glued on corners to mount
Support Dimensions: 30.1 x 43.4 cm thin, brown paper primary support with evidence on verso of secondary support adhesive marks

Signed on verso in ink script by hand of author:

#16
The Iron Mill
CL Gray
March Album
1908

In 1908, the photographic journal the Photo-Era lists C.L. Gray as being one of seven members of The Photographic Society of East Liverpool, Ohio. Later, in 1916, Gray’s occupation is listed as general manager of the Cartwright Brothers Pottery Company of East Liverpool, Ohio.  (1.)

1. New York News: in: The Pottery,  Glass and Brass Salesman: September 7, 1916: p. 25.

Original copy for this entry posted to Facebook on January 11, 2012:

Industry as a subject matter for pictorial photographers seemed to be quite rare in the early part of the 20th century. This vintage carbon photograph by C.L. Gray from 1908 depicts an iron mill along with the curving lines of train tracks and box cars and is presented in warm brown tones. It would be interesting to identify the location of this photograph-perhaps a plant in and around the greater Western PA/Pittsburgh area would be my guess.