page_title: Swindon Corporation Tramways
hierarchical_section_title: Swindon Corporation Tramways
caption_attribution_description: Postcard of tram apparently dressed to celebrate a festival in relation to King George V. The lettering behind the people says "Support Victoria Hospital, and the collection boxes are possibly for Red Cross or just for the hospital, so the tram is possibly part of a parade. The photo was taken in Fleet Street in Swindon, Wiltshire, England in the 1920s-1930s. Old handwriting in debased copperplate and fountain pen on the back says: "Taken along Fleet St. No Shops only hoarding. re. reflection in tram". The women's clothing suggests very early 1920s. On 6 May 1920 George V had been 10 years on the throne. The photographer was Fred C. Palmer of Tower Studio, Herne Bay, Kent ca.1905-1916, and of 6 Cromwell Street, Swindon ca.1920-1936. He is believed to have died 1936-1939. Points of interest: The tram driver stands on the left. The man in front of the tram on the right is wearing Pierrot costume. All the men except the tram driver have German moustaches. Border The remaining border of this image is important for researchers of this photographer. Some photographers trimmed their images more than others, and Palmer has a reputation for producing smaller postcards than other early 20th century UK photographers. He took his own photos, developed them in-house onto postcard-backed photographic paper and trimmed them himself. It is worth adding that during hand-developing the border is actively masked with equipment which both crops the picture and causes the white frame or border to appear on the paper. This frame is part of the design and is one of the reasons why the quality of Palmer's work is so interesting, and why there is an article and category for him on English Wiki. Researchers need to see exactly where the edge of the postcard is. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
context_page_description: Swindon Corporation Tramways operated an electric passenger tramway service in Swindon between 1904 and 1929.
context_section_description: Swindon Corporation Tramways operated an electric passenger tramway service in Swindon between 1904 and 1929.
caption: Decorated tram on Fleet Street in Swindon
exif: {}