As Time Goes By: Fred Viner

This cabinet card photograph of two members of The Salvation Army was taken by photographer Fred Viner in 1899 in his studio at 88 High Street, Ramsgate. He had previously moved from his studio at 40, Walworth Road, Southeast London to Ramsgate in 1899. The London studio was described as an electric mezzotint studio, as photographers at the time considered themselves to be artists using the latest technology. The backs of the cabinet cards often carried decorative advertising that their photography was art. The design of cherubs painting was a popular advertising theme used by Ramsgate photographers during the late Victorian era on the back of cabinet cards. Fred Viner also used the term “plantino gallery” on card fronts.

Louis Carpenter was apprenticed to Fred Viner in 1899. A year later in 1900 the business was known as Viner and Carpenter when Fred sold the business to Louis who was in his early twenties. Louis paid for the business in instalments. Cabinet cards were sold for one for a shilling or twelve for ten shillings. The studio also produced smaller CDV cards at four shillings a dozen.

During the Edwardian era, Louis Carpenter went on to become a prolific portrait and landscape photographer in Ramsgate to last a decade. The business was later sold to Romney Studios in 1912.

Written by:
Councillor Tony Ovenden
Councillor for Sir Moses Montefiore Ward