This old-timey photo shows the interior of a vintage shoe store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a 5x7 image on a 8x10 mat.
Here is a cropped version.
On the back appears to be a photographer’s stamp that reads:
F B BROWN
901, 4TH ST. NORTH
T,S PHONE NORTH 6626
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN
On the top of the back are some pencil marks that appear to read: “2735 - 43 ST 3-100”. It is not clear to me that this is anything other than a previous seller’s notes.
And some of my favorite closeup details:
My very rough guess is that this was taken sometime around 1920, but I am open to being corrected. I examined the photograph with a magnifying glass but was unable to pick up any clues.
Here are some questions I would explore if I did some more thorough research into this photo:
When did the photographer F.B. Brown work in Minneapolis?
What can the light fixture tell us about the date of the photo?
Who are these men and what are their stories?
Are the pencil marks on the back meaningful?
What brand of shoes are on the shelves?
Let me know if you have any insights into this photo and I will update it with credit to you!
