What print and enlarging options would an amateur photographer have in the U.S. in 1921?
Asked 8/28/2021
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I’m researching a historical fiction novel set in the United States in 1921. A character uses an American Tourist Multiple camera and has some darkroom experience, with possible access to either a city newspaper office or a portrait studio. I’m trying to determine how that character could realistically get prints made and what enlarging options would have been available at the time. Would an amateur typically print at home, use a studio darkroom, or send film out to a shop? Also, would portrait studios likely have been working with 35mm, or mainly larger formats?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
4y ago
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By 1920 the photofinishing industry was well established. These firms were advertising film developing and printing services, including enlarging. Camera stores were common, and photofinishing was one of their offerings which also included printing and enlarging. Additionally, photographers worked out of a shop that typically did their own film developing, printing, and enlarging. Most such shops advertised photofinishing services.
Since photofinishing is deeply rooted in chemistry, it was a natural for the local drugstore (pharmacist – chemists),to offer photofinishing services. This evolved into drugstores selling cameras and films. Thus, the drugstore became a key player for film developing, printing with enlarging service.
By 1920, in a metropolitan area, amateur photographers would have no difficulty getting film developed, printed and enlarged.
I entered the photofinishing business in the 1950's. In the backroom was a plethora of retired equipment including enlargers that were used in the 1020's.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
4y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
In 1921, an amateur in a U.S. city would realistically have several ways to get prints made. By then, photofinishing was already well established: camera shops, photographers’ studios, and even many drugstores commonly offered film developing, printing, and enlarging services. So your character would not need a personal enlarger to get enlargements made.
If the character had darkroom experience and access to a studio or newspaper darkroom, they could plausibly make prints there, but many amateurs simply used commercial photofinishers. In a metropolitan area especially, sending film to a local shop for developing and prints would be normal.
Portrait studios of the period generally worked in larger formats rather than 35mm. So if your character is using a small camera, that would be more in the amateur/snapshot tradition than typical studio portrait practice. A studio might still have darkroom equipment and the know-how to process and enlarge small negatives, but 35mm would not be the expected studio format.
So for realism: the easiest and most typical path is a camera shop, photographer’s shop, or drugstore handling developing, printing, and enlarging.
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