Benjamin Fowler

photographer: Fowler
238 N 8th, Philadelphia, PA
example from LOST GALLEY

Benjamin W Fowler
(1868 – 1933)

1868 Oct 26
Woodbury, NJ, state records, Benjamin Wilkins Fowler is born to Benjamin Fowler and Sarah Jane Pedrick
1886, 1887, 1890, 1891
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Benjamin W Fowler NOT listed
1890
Philadelphia, PA, 1900 US census, Benjamin Fowler and Lillian Maude Brubaker are married
1892, 1893, 1894, 1895
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Benjamin W photographer at 238 N 8th; res 1207 Race
1896 to 1930
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Benjamin W Fowler as photographer at 238 N 8th; res 1831 N Franklin
1931-1933
NO additional information has been found
1933 Aug 04
Philadelphia, PA, state records, Benjamin Fowler dies at age 64

So for 38 years, 1892 to 1930, B W Fowler studio was at the same address.

During 1894, he apparently had Jesse P Starr working in the studio. The imprint reads “Successor to Fowler” but that is probably just temporary hype. The association only appears that one year.

If you have a card with an imprint similar to the example at the RIGHT, you’re in luck! It was finished in 1894.

But, if you have a card that is imprinted only with the Fowler address of 238 N Eighth Street, it could have been finished any time between 1892 and 1930. Keep in mind also when dating a cabinet card, the format itself began losing favor around 1898 when great strides in photography were being made.

Note this Fowler is NOT the same as the Fowler that worked in Lancaster, PA.

For more on the partner mentionioned in 1885 - 1886, see Jesse Starr of Philadelphia, PA.

These are by Benjamin Fowler at 238 North 8th

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site
(NOT a cabinet card)

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor

reverse of card at left

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor

photographer: Fowler
238 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor

reverse of card at left

L C Fowler was established in York, PA, for a brief time around August of 1888. He moved back to Lancaster, PA.

photographer: L C Fowler
No 6 West Market St, York. PA
example from contributor
(finished about August of 1888)

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.

Louis Blaul

Blaul Art Gallery
1937 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia. PA
example from LOST GALLERY

Reverse of card at the left

Louis Blaul
(1854 - 1909)

Louis Blaul appears to have spent his entire business life in Philadelphia, PA, moving his studio only three or four times.

Timeline
1854 Nov 18
Louis B Blaul born in Lancaster County, PA (Some documents say New York)
1880 Jun 05
Philadelphia, PA, US census and city directory; as copyist of photographs with Eshback, Blaul & Co at 233 n 6th
1881 Sep 12
Blaul marries Mary Conrad Clendennon
1884 Jan 04
Philadelphia, PA, son Louis Adolph Blaul is born
1894 Nov & Dec
The Times (Philadelphia, PA); Nine small ads for studios at 56 n 8th and 1937 Germantown
1888 Sep
The Times (Philadelphia, PA); Eight small ad for studios at 56 n 8th and 1937 Germantown

1889
Philadelphia, PA, city directory; as photographer at 1937 Germantown with partner Adolph J Baumgardner
1890
Baumgardner is now partners with Louis H. Helbing
1894 May 21
Philadelphia (PA) inquirer; news item about fire at 56 n 8th
1894 Nov & Dec
The Times (Philadelphia, PA) 12 small ads for studio at 56 n 8th and 1973 Germantown
1897 Jan 20
Philadelphia (PA) inquirer; small ad for studio 56 n 8th and 1937 Germantown
1899 Sep 28
Philadelphia (PA) inquirer; small want ad for retoucher at studio 56 n 8th
1900
Philadelphia (PA) Business Directory; Blaul Art Gallery at 1937 Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, (Alonzo P Young); Blaul Louis 56 n 8th; res 707 Berks (the Germantown address is not mentioned after this)

- timeline continued in next row

1902 May 06
Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer; fined for open on Sunday, studio at 56 n 8th; res 707 Berks
1903 May and Oct
Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer; 3 small want ad for studio at 56 n 8th
1904
Philadelphia, PA, city directory; as photographer at 56 n 8th
1904 Mar 21
Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer; small want ad for retoucher at 56 n 8th studio
1906 Aug 17
Philadelphia (PA) Inquire;r small want ad for lady for reception room studio 56 n 8th
1908
Philadelphia, PA, city directory; as photographer at 56 n 8th; res 447 n 3rd
1909 Nov 05
Louis Blaul Dies in Philadelphia, PA, after long illness

Business address summary

1880
Eshback, Blaul & Co at 233 n 6th
1894 - 1902
studios at 56 n 8th and 1937 Germantown
1890
studio at 56 n 8th and 1937 Germantown with partner Adolph J Baumgardner
1891 - 1901
studios at 56 n 8th and 1937 Germantown
1902 - 1908
studio at 56 n 8th

The cabinet card at the top could have been finished between 1894 and 1900. Considering the design of the card, it was probably done in that later part of that period.

Two more examples can be found at
Cabinet Card Gallery.

The (Philadelphia, PA) Times - 15 Sep 1888


The (Philadelphia, PA) Times - 21 Apr 1890

The Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer - 06 May 1902


The Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer - 07 Nov 1909

Here is an excellent example contributed by Brad Felmey. This card has some important dating information written on the reverse that sadly, informs us of the boy’s tragically short life. It says:
John Christi
Born - Mar 13, 1875
Died - Aug 21, 1890

Estimating the boy at 10 years old in the photograph would mean it must have been finished in 1885. This certainly narrows the time frame for when this imprinted design was used.

photographer: Blaul
56 N Eight Street and 1937 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor: Brad Felmey

reverse of card at left

photograpner: Blaul Art Gallery
1937 Germantown Av, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor Barry McGowan

Reverse of card at left

Judging by the condition, this example of an imprinted reverse was probably in use early in the period between 1894 and 1901, when Blaul was at 1937 Germantown.

photographer: Blaul
Philadelphia
example from auction site

photographer: Blaul
1937 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
additional example from an auction site

Additional example of the reverse side of a cabinet card by Blaul; the design known to be in use sometime between November of 1894 and 1901
Additional example at the Allan Mays Flickr site

photographer: Louis Blaul
Philadelphia
example from auction site

photographer: Louis Blaul
56 N Eighth, Philadelphia, PA
Example from Mike Camero.
Photo is of his grandfather,
George Francis Daland Griggs.

reverse of card at left

According to Cabinet Card Gallery: The son, Louis Adolph Blaul (1884-1954) was a law student at the University of Pennsylvania when his father died. He left his law studies to take over his father’s business.

Indeed, city directory listings for Louis Blaul Photography carry on to 1950. (No Philadelphia city directories available after 1950.)

1910 - 1916
Philadelpia, PA, city directory Louis Blaul photography at 56 N Eighth and 5613 Germantown Av

Apparently Louis Blaul jr closes the studio at 56 N Eighth in 1916 and concentrates on the location at 5613 Germantown Av.

1917, 1918, 1919, 1921, 1922, 1923
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Louis Blaul photography at 5613 Germantown Av
1924, 1925
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Louis Blaul photography at 5611 Germantown
1930
Philadelphia, PA, city directory Blaul Studio, 6211? (printing copy obscured)
1935
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, pages missing
1950
Philadelphia, PA, city directory, Blaul Studio at 334 E Cheltn Av
No Philadelphia city directories available after this date

photographer Louis Blaul
56 N Eighth and 1937 Germantown Av
Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Blaul
Philadelphia
example from auction site

photographer: Blaul
Philadelphia
example from contributor

photographer: Louis Blaul
Philadelphia
example contributed by
Deborah Lundbech on Ipernety

photographer Louis Blaul
56 N Eighth and 1937 Germantown Av
Philadelphia, PA
example from Garrison House Ephemera

reverse of card at left

photographer: Blaul
Philadelphia
example from Wiki Commons

photographer: Blaul
Philadelphia, PA
example from auction site

The example at the right is a post-card style. It was contributed from Cracow, Poland. The embossed address shows that it was done at the 56 N 8th studio in Philadelphia. It would have been finished between 1894 and 1916 but probably well after 1900. Great example!.

photographer: Louis Blaul
56 N 8th, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor G Kuczek in Cracow,Poland

photographer: Blaul
56 N 8th, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor MMontgomery
(example highly restored)

The example at the left:
Blaul studio was at the 56 N 8th address from 1894 on into the 20th century so it's fairly sure the photo was not taken before 1894.

After George Eastman began selling his “Kodak” about 1889, the popularity of the professional photograph studio went into a sharp decline. The professional galleries had to come up with attractive presentations for the customer’s portraits. This included the embossed style of this card.

The card itself is a good clue. The embossed (“blind-stamp”) blank cards were, in general, not even available before about 1890. And the popularity of the cabinet card format (4.25 X 6.5 in.) itself went into sharp decline at the turn of the century to be replaced by the easel backed mounts and the matted folders.

photographer: Blaul art Gallery
1937 Germantown Av, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor Lisa B

photographer: Blaul art Gallery
Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor Lisa B

This card is an example of the style of card mountings emerging after 1900. The cabinet card format (6.5 X 4.25) was losing favor as rapidly as it gained popularity back about 1865.
The dates 1884 and 1902 are written on the reverse, too faintly to be seen here. These dates seem to be the date the subject was born, 1884, and the date the photo was taken, 1902. This would make the subject 18 years old which is consistent with the age he appears in the photograph.

photographer: Louis Blaul
56 N 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA
This card is 6"x9"
example from contributor EBassett

reverse of card at left

Detail showing photographer imprint

photographer: Blaul
1937 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor, T Gerhart
card dimensions: 5 1/8 x 7 1/8

photographer: Louis Blaul
56 N 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor

photographer: Blaul
Philadelphia
example from pinterest

photographer: Blaul
1927 Germantown Av, Philadelphia, PA
example from contributor
(probably finished between 1894 and 1899)

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.