Hi ! Just to keep you uptodate and to make a report on the facilities. I made my promised trip to the British Library Newspaper Archives in Colindale and what an interest/time devouring/eyestraining visit it was. Very well situated, go by tube to Colindale Stn and it is bang opposite, literally yards away. Firstly, if trawling through old newspapers is your thing then this is the place to go. You spend the first 20 minutes getting yourself a pass but as it lasts for two years and is free you shouldn't complain. As others have explained, you need to bring something like a rates bill to confirm your address and a Driving Licence or Passport to establish your identity. The staff are all very helpful and I even got someone to explain the "how-do yo do's" of the Microfiche viewers. I managed to scan the whole of the 1936 copies of the Sunday Despatch before I realised that it is a very time consuming operation and I hope to go back for another stint to cover the 1937 period and perhaps look at 1936 again in case I've missed something. When I do find what I'm looking for (and I'm optimistic) you will hear the squeals of delight/triumph from wherever you are
Gents (and ladies too ) While we are on the subject of Newspaper Archives can I set you a project ? It's difficult for me claim that this actually fits into a WW2 category but it was in a period leading up to the war so I hope you will be persuaded that it is a permissable query. In 1935 (could be early 1936) I was working in Fleet Street for two photographic companies in sucession in the lowly position of "runner-boy" The First was Associated Press of Great Britain & America, the second was Topical Press Agency. ..... Would someone like to make my day ? As always, thanks in advance Ron Ron, I just read your post and your giant man was almost certainly the Dutchman Albert Johan Kramer. He was touring London (and Fleet Street) during that time. Here are 2 pictures that were taken around that time in London with Albert Johan Kramer (who was also called Jan van Albert or Lofty): He was often travelling with a very small man (Seppetoni) who was his brother in law. There is more information about and many images of Albert Johan Kramer here: Albert Johan Kramer - The tallest man I hope he is your man! Kind regards, The Tallest Man
Ooh, I do hope you've cracked it there TTM, I seem to come back to this thread quite a bit. Can I take it this is your site? Albert Johan Kramer - The tallest man World - The tallest man living on earth ever Good stuff, ~Adam.
TTM, Hello and welcome to the forum. A nice first post answering a question with great photographs. How about introducing yourself and interests. Regards Tom
Ooh, I do hope you've cracked it there TTM, I seem to come back to this thread quite a bit. Can I take it this is your site? Albert Johan Kramer - The tallest man World - The tallest man living on earth ever Good stuff, ~Adam. Yes, that is my website. I hope it is not considered bad etiquette to add a link to my own website (in my first post!), but I do think this is the man Ron shook hands with in the years leading towards the war. Everything Ron says about it fits in with Kramer's multiple visits to England. Many thanks for the welcome everybody. Kind Regards, Arjen edit: The second image I posted was not taken in Fleet Street, but in Liverpool Street according to this newspaper clipping:
TTM WELCOME ABOARD YOU LOVELY CHAP !!!!!!! You have just made my day !!!! My man MUST be your man Albert Johan Kramer (who was also called Jan van Albert or Lofty): I was particularly interested in the photo of him in Fleet Street, do you have the actual date on which it was taken. If I have that, then this coupled with what looks like the correct name must surely help me in my quest. Loved your site !!!!!! Best regards Ron
TTM You have just made my day !!!! What a great result Ron! I really hope this will lead to you finding your picture at last. Tom.
TTM WELCOME ABOARD YOU LOVELY CHAP !!!!!!! You have just made my day !!!! My man MUST be your man Albert Johan Kramer (who was also called Jan van Albert or Lofty): I was particularly interested in the photo of him in Fleet Street, do you have the actual date on which it was taken. If I have that, then this coupled with what looks like the correct name must surely help me in my quest. Loved your site !!!!!! Best regards Ron I am glad I could be of help and Albert Johan Kramer was your man. I am pretty sure I will be able to find the actual date of the photograph. I will come back to you when I have found it. Kind regards, TTM
Just a point of interest, a pathe newsreel of "lofty" van Albert arriving LOFTY ARRIVES - British Pathe
Ron What a winner can't wait to see the Long and Short of the story. Not only a well liked forum member but an early star in print
Great thread. This is one of the great aspects of the Internet. Amazing, brings a tear to my eye of how decent some people are.
This is what the pic looks like, printed in a long single column stretching down most of the page. (Excuse the lousy drawing!) Ron
If it was published Ron, it WILL be on microfiche in someones archives ... armed with your approx date a call to the British Library might be fruitful ... Have you tried the Getty Images Archive Ron? As part of my photography course, we had a tour of the archive and there are thousands upon thousands of images there. They have bought up lots of old newspaper archives and I know, having seen some with my own eyes, that they hold loads of old newspaper images, all categorised into sections about different topics/celebrities etc. Surely such an image would be there as a 'curiosity'. I can't quite remember where in London it is at the moment, but can find out if you want.
Ron I've emailed my photography tutor to see if she can get me the Getty contact's details ... will let you know any response I get. Nicola
Giving this thread a bump in the vain hope that someone, somewhere will locate this newspaper clipping for me whilst I am still here to appreciate it Not that I think that it would help matters but my offer of a donation to any charity of your choice still stands and I have raised the ante to £75 :thankyousign: Ron
Ron great photo of the young Ron, I enjoy your threads - they are so educational and amusing . I do hope you find the photo .Elsie
