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Hi all, just wondered if any of the esteemed members are a whizz with old images? On the image below, there are two cars parked on the left. The further away is parked outside a shop and I would like to know the name on said shop!
I can't make it out however I look at it, can anyone do better?
Apparently it's a view of Government Road in Nairobi circa 1920.
Thanks for looking all.
http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/herit...Nairobi---.jpg
Watches of Switzerland
Looks like some initials, T&T G Gill to me🤔
Is this any help?
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...0shops&f=false
A quick google foo attributes image as "Government Road from Khoja Mosque end 1920. (sent by Rajni Shah)"
http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/herit...Nairobi---.jpg
http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/herit...mosque1920.jpg
Public gathering at the Khoja Mosque 1920's (Sent by Rajni Shah)
http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/herit...ja-mosque2.jpg
http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/herit...bi-streets.jpg
Plenty of images in the link below, which hopefully can provide an additional info and help you to ID the shop.
http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/herit...20nAIROBI.html
I tried photoshop and http://smartdeblur.net - neither made it so I could read it. The source image is too pixelated to restore I reckon.
I could not make the img better so tried my google-fu at it and I think that the view is of Bazaar Street rather than Government Road.
The larger building is the Khoja Mosque, corner of Government Road and River Road. Given the side visible in the photo the photo should be taken from Bazaar Street based on the map in prev post.
I'd think a register akin to linked in earlier post and an old street map is your best bet.
Looks like
?WATS’CHILLI
Not sure about that 😂Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Curta
Thanks for trying guys, it’s probably not the one I’m looking for but it was worth a try!
The Kenya National Archives appears to be located near that mosque on the same Moi Avenue (formerly Government Road) in Nairobi. Their email is info@archives.go.ke and website is http://www.archives.go.ke. They may have city directories or other resources from the mid-1920s, if their staff is willing to help via email.
Thanks might be worth a try.Quote:
Originally Posted by williemays
Thanks, it’s actually the website I found the image on, there’s a lot of images on there!Quote:
Originally Posted by VDG
The business I’m searching for was called “May & Co. Ltd - The Sports House - Nairobi”.
Although I can find other ‘sports house’ businesses I can’t find any records of them. I believe they might have been safari outfitters or similar.
I think you’re right the original image probably isn’t clear enough but thanks for trying.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyE
Did you look through the list I posted?Quote:
Originally Posted by oldoakknives
Sorry not yet. Tried on phone then gave up! Will have a look on Mac after breakfast.Quote:
Originally Posted by bwest76
Checked it but couldn't see anything thanks. Might be 1958 is too late, probably in the 1900-1930 range.Quote:
Originally Posted by bwest76
At glance, sign above the shop next to the second vehicle on the left does say ... something in capital letters ... & Co ... something in small letters in superscript and below them... I'll pay with it once I have access to the box.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldoakknives
I think it is Alibhai & Co Ltd, I think it is the same as this building (on the left), the script for "& Co Ltd" looks the same and the large (mosque?) in the centre background is the same
Dave
Right, this is the best I could do, given that there is not much of resolution to start with.
I think I can make out with some degree of confidence capital "A" and "I" before "& Co"..
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c68b1f6b_o.png
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ab136ee1_o.png
I think you're right, and sweets probably ID'd it right as Alibhai & Co Ltd. So still looking for May & Co. Ltd but it has eliminated some red herrings.Quote:
Originally Posted by VDG
Thanks guys.
So you weren't waiting for an Alibhai
I'm seeing SpecSaversQuote:
Originally Posted by Mr Curta
Photo appears to be taken in Biashara Street. Tent & Sail Makers premises now occupied by Totos & Toys. Site of the mystery sign appears to be Lakhamshi House.
(Google streetview..)
:unconscious:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Curta
I don't think it's Alibhai's, I think it's the next building along. Alibhai's canopy looks like a new addition. Look for the four slender columns under the canopy in question.
You may be right, but I don’t think it’s May & Co.Quote:
Originally Posted by catch21
Appreciate you looking though.
They probably only had 64k sensors in their cameras back then.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyE
Is it odd that there's a sailmaker in Nairobi?
Did you see THIS Alamy image?
If you download the preview, you can see May & Co written on the side of the next two-storey building to the left of this biggest one. The "May and Co" is written underneath one of the Alamy water marks, so only visible when you get the preview. See?
https://i.postimg.cc/xC3cjCgM/May.jpg
Dave
I think in those days 'sailmakers' would would make canvas covers for wagons, and make/repair tents and the like. This was likely in the period when safari's were popular in Kenya.Quote:
Originally Posted by hogthrob
Wow, thanks sweets, thats impressive! How did you find it? That is almost certainly May and Co. so will try to narrow down the street to look for more images.Quote:
Originally Posted by sweets
The big building on the corner next to it is the old Barclay's Bank building, which should help.
The Alamy image caption mentions May and Co, so it was relatively easy to find when you put inverted commas round "May & Co" in a search.....
D
Will try looking for Barclays in Nairobi.Quote:
Originally Posted by sweets
Would never have thought of putting inverted commas for a search!
Here's an anlternatve view of the first scene - it's definitely Alibai & Co Ltd
https://www.alamy.com/M89Y3K
Cheers!:eagerness:Quote:
Originally Posted by hogthrob
Looks like the photo that sweets found with May & Co on is the only one so far. I don't seem to get any good results searching on Alamy for some reason.
I think this is it:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...234fb52984.jpg
This article says Barclay's Bank was on Moi Ave and Kenyatta Ave.
Nairobi Sports House is next door at 33 Moi Avenue. E-mail: moiavenue@nairobisportshouse.com
One more screen shot from Google Street View:https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...552b4fb561.jpg
Thanks williemays, not sure if thats a later business in the same location, or a different location. I need to identify the street in sweets link I think.
Picture without watermark
http://oi65.tinypic.com/212g8sl.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3ff610a3bb.jpg Image from http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/herit...20nAIROBI.html
"In 1916, the National Bank of South Africa (now First National Bank) opened a branch at the junction of Government Road (Moi Avenue) and Sixth Avenue (Kenyatta Avenue) soon after establishing a branch in Mombasa....By 1921, Barclays Bank had acquired a controlling interest in Anglo-Egyptian Bank and the National Bank of South Africa....In the early 1950s Barclays put up a modern five storey building to house their head office. The building stands on Kenyatta Avenue with a return frontage to Moi Avenue." From https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/...uhz/index.html
Sounds like the original 1916 building is in the same location as the current 1950s building.
Ah yes it’s a newer building on the same site then which threw me!
So I think May and Co were on Government Road/Moi road perhaps.
Next is to search those roads for pictures with May and Co on, I think.
Thanks williemays
Well, thanks for the help finding a picture of May & Co., I don't think I would ever have found it on my own! It's probably the only one taken while they were still trading, I've certainly never found any others.
Anyway some of you might be wondering why I'm interested in the company? It's a long story, but in short my father had the knife pictured below, which was given to him by an American in WW2. I've always been fascinated to try and trace the retailer and perhaps narrow down it's history a bit. It seems certain it would have been bought in Nairobi in the early 1900's, having been made in Sheffield.
Thanks again guys.
http://oi29.tinypic.com/33etwmr.jpg
http://oi65.tinypic.com/2ahhcow.jpg
Ah, I was wondering about that :smug: Anyway, if curiosity get better of you and you have some time on your hands, I'd suggest contacting one of the historians at local Uni or national museum to dig a bit deeper.
Never thought anyone would be interested tbh, but you never know!Quote:
Originally Posted by VDG