730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
John D Strunk
(17 Mar 1856 - 10 Mar 1930)
John D Strunk was a lifelong professional photographer. He and his father Henry Strunk, operated the studio together until his father’s death in 1906. All city directory listings show John as the operator of the studio and his father an additional photographer.
Studio locations in Reading, PA according to the city directories:
1978 to 1883 – 830 Penn
1884 to 1886 – 826 Penn (may be a renumbering of the street, not a move)
1887 – 826 AND 730 Penn
1888 to 1918 – 730 Penn
15 March 1919 to 1931 – 10 North Ninth
So far, Most examples found are from 730 Penn. These would then be dated 1888 to 1918.
John D Strunk died in 1930 at age 70.
There’s not much help dating cabinet cards from J D Strunk studio. He used many different designs of imprints and eventually some clue as to which was used when may develop.
One bit of information stands that he moved the studio from 838 Penn to 826 Penn sometime in late 1884. Then he moved from 826 Penn to 730 Penn in 1887.
Remember also, the cabinet card format lost favor rapidly after 1900 when George Eastman made personal cameras affordable and available to anyone.
The cabinet card format was still used, but only as a novelty or promotion. Other formats, easel backs, slip in matting and folders became the mode of choice.
Fine coverage of the life of John D Strunk can be found here:
Psychogenealogist
The Getty Museum
The Cabinet Card Gallery
17 Feb 1919
14 Mar 1930
11 Mar 1930
826 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
826 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
(Finished about 1887)
826 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from contributor
This design has an award logo in the imprint dated 1891.
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from pin
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor photographer: Strunk
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from contributor
(Finished between 1888 and 1918)
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
(embossed design)
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
(metalic imprint)
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
(Nearly the same imprint at above but there is a small scroll designe after the name on this version.
These examples are very faint.)
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
reverse design unknown at this time
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
(Script style "Strunk" and "Reading" in small font)
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
reverse design unknown at this time
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
730 Penn St, Reading, PA
example from contributor
Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's
INDEX by name.
All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th
century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.
Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.
This is a work always in progress.
Aditional information and New examples are always welcome. Any
additional information will help narrow the time that these precious
antiques were made.
All submissions should be free of glare and
shadows.
Do not crop.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are
sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.
Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity
and presentation here.
This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as
always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the
use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately
removed.
