Cambridgeshire Photographers

Name: RAMSEY AND MUSPRATT, later RAMSEY AND MUSPRATT LTD
Address: Briefly 20 St Andrews Street Cambridge 1932-4 then in 1934 moved to Post Office Terrace, incorporating the business of J Palmer Clarke. See also our entry for PAL Brunney
Working Dates: 1932 - 80
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Lettice Ramsey Née Baker, 1898 -1985, a graduate of Newnham College Cambridge married Cambridge mathematician and philosopher, Frank Ramsey in 1926. Frank died in 1930 and Lettice looked for a new way to support herself and her two young daughters. In 1932 she set up in the photographic business with Helen Muspratt, a photographer trained at Regent Street Polytechnic in London. Lettice had the Cambridge contacts to get the firm work while Helen had the photographic skills and experience. In 1937 Helen Muspratt moved to Oxford and set up a studio there, leaving Lettice to run the Cambridge business. In the 1939 Register Lettice was listed as a photographer and widow, living at 4 Mortimer Road, Cambridge. Living at this address as lodgers were a university law lecturer and a research student, plus a domestic servant.

One of the firm's long term employees from 1936 to 1958, and a Director after WW2, was Philip Alexander Lake Brunney. PAL Brunney's son, John, recalls that there were other employees at Ramsey and Muspratt over the years. Lettice was one of those people who "collected" interesting people around her and all of her staff were "real characters". After the war there were photo spotters and re-touchers Connie, (From Greece?), Eileen (later a photographer with the firm) and Greeta (a German Jewish refugee?) and by the mid 1960s there were three ladies working there as photographers: Eileen, Elizabeth and Jill, the surnames all not known by John. We have been helped here by Sandy McPhoenix who says that Connie was her husbands grandmother, Constance Goldschmidt (nee Harlow 1895-1964), who came to Cambridge to escape from Nazi Germany in 1935 and lived in Victoria Road with her daughter Evie. Her co-worker Greeta was Grete Zobel (1913-2005). Nicholas Lee took over the business in 1978 when Lettice retired. In 1980 the Cambridge Yellow Pages listed "Nicholas Lee of Ramsey and Muspratt". The business was then purchased by Peter Lofts in 1980. There is an extensive indexed negative collection from the firm in the Cambridgeshire Collection, deposited by Peter Lofts after he bought up the business. Cambridge Yellow Pages continued to list the firm's name from 1980-85, but with the same telephone number as Peter Lofts. The old Post Office Studio building was renovated for other use in 1985.

Ramsey and Muspratt are best known for their portrait work. Their sympathetic, well lit images quickly made the firm fashionable, photographing the up and coming and influential throughout the 1930s, including Anthony Blunt and Virginia Woolf. The firm also undertook a wide range of commercial photography. On 25 Oct 1935 the Cambridge Daily News reported "Ramsey and Muspratt's photographic work will be even more distinctive by the use of the solarization process in certain of their portraits. It produces quite different results from the usual photograph as by chemical means a black line is made to outline the face of the subject giving it the appearance of a drawing. Their other work captures not only the face but the character of the subject." They were very successful where they entered exhibitions, having two photographs accepted in the London Salon of Photography in both 1936 and 1937. Below is a charming portrait of a baby with rattle 14 x 10.5 cm, with backstamp "Ramsey & Muspratt 20 St Andrews Street Cambridge" c.1932, (author's collection). Below this is a portrait of Miss Charmian Goldney WVS, c.1950 (author's collection) photo size 8cm x 11cm on cream mount 6in x 4 in. The face of the mount has written in manuscript in pencil "Ramsey & Muspratt Cambridge & Oxford". The rear is stamped with a simple rubber stamp " Ramsey & Muspratt Post Office Terrace, Cambridge" the stamp measures approx 6cm wide. Below this is a portrait of Lettice Ramsey by PAL Brunney c. 1970. Next is a 1950s portrait of an unknown woman - the name "Edith" is written on the reverse in manuscript, a 4.25 x 5.75 inch photo on cream card and tissue mount with "Ramsey & Muspratt Cambridge" in manuscript on the tissue mount.

For more on Post Office Terrace Studio and negatives from the studio www.fadingimages.uk/POT1.asp

References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992
20 St Andrews Street - Spaldings Directory of Cambridge 1932-34. Moved to Post Office Terrace in 1934. From 1934 - 1940 the entries in Spaldings Directory of Cambridge read "Ramsey and Muspratt (incorporating Clarke, J Palmer) Post Office Terrace"
Kellys Directory of Cambridgeshire 1937-75
An Eye on the Past, Cambridge Weekly News, Mike Petty, 10/1/1991, 18/1/1991
Petty MJ, The Cambridge Photographers at Post Office Terrace, Cambridge No 29, Winter 1991-2.
Kelly’s Cambridge Directory 1962, 1964, 1965/66, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975. Nicholas Lee of Ramsey and Muspratt is listed in Cambridge Yellow Pages 1980. Cambridge Yellow Pages 1982, 1984 and 1985 the firm’s name re-appears in Yellow Pages with the same phone number as the entry for its new owner, Peter Lofts.
Jessica Sutcliffe, Face: Shape and Angle, Helen Muspratt Photographer, Manchester University Press, 2016, ISBN -10: 1526100843
Obituaries, personal family photographs and examples of Lettice's work can be found on her grand-son's excellent website www.stephenburch.com/lettice/lettice.htm
A set of examples of portraits by Ramsey and Muspratt can be found in the National Portrait Gallery: www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/set/260/Photographs+by+Ramsey+%26+Muspratt

Baby portrait by Ramsey and Muspratt Backstamp, Ramsey and Muspratt

Ramsey and Muspratt portrait of Charmian Goldney WVS Ramsey and Muspratt stamp

Portrait of Lettice Ramsey by PAL Brunney, c.1970 (J Brunney family photographs)

Portrait of "Edith" by Ramsey and Muspratt

Portrait of "Edith" by Ramsey and Muspratt Cambridge

Name: RAMSEY PHOTO SERVICES b: d:
Address: 36 Great Whyte Ramsey
Working Dates: 1980 - 1983
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: commercial, industrial and studio photography, 5 minute passport photos
References: Cambridge Yellow Pages 1982, 1983, Peterborough Yellow Pages 1980

RAND. Jeff - see FOOD AND PHOTOGRAPHY CO

Name: RANDS, William b: 1839 Ramsey. d:1861
Address: Whittlesey.
Working Dates: c.1861
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: The Cambridge Independent Press of 18 May 1861 reported the death at Whittlesey on 14th May of William Rands, "photographic artist", son of the late William Rands hairdresser of Ramsey. In the 1861 census William was shown living in Church Street Whittlesey with his step father, mother and two step brothers. His occupation was shown as plumber and glazier, suggesting the photographic artistry was a secondary occupation. Given his untimely death, surviving photographs by Rands are likely to be extremely rare.
References: Cambridge Independent Press 18/5/1861

Name: RANFT, Paul b: d:
Address: 22A Lincoln Road, Peterborough, also at 3 and 4 Wellington Lane, Stamford.
Working Dates: c.1990
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information:
References: Peterborough Yellow Pages 1990

Name: RANGEL Blas b:1840 Singapore d:
Address: New Photographic Studio, Roman Rooms, Jesus Lane, Cambridge
Working Dates: 1868-9
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Blas Rangel could have come to Cambridge from Oxford. The Oxford Journal 23rd April 1864 and the Oxford Times 14th May 1864 carried an advertisement for a photographic firm of "Rangel and Taphouse at 7 Park-End Street Oxford", offering "12 copies of your own cartes de visite for 50 stamps". Rangel married in Greenwich in 1867. Rangel had an advertisement in the Cambridge Chronicle 18th July 1868 announcing "B.Rangel's new photographic studio specially constructed for rapid portraiture is now open. Roman Rooms, Jesus Lane, Cambridge." The new venture obviously didn't go well for in January 1869 Rangel, listed as an assistant photographer, Cambridge, filed for bankruptcy (London Gazette 8th January 1869). In 1875 an article on botanical curiosities at Penmaenmawr in the North Wales Chronicle recounted that "Mr Rangel, a chinese photographer from Penmaenmawr, was engaged in taking the third and last view and it took no less than 20 minutes exposure to obtain it." In 1878 the Cambridge Independent Press reported a case against Blas, a photographer then living in Farndon Avenue Manchester, for failing to maintain his wife and children, who had become chargeable to the Cambridge Union. Blas pleaded that he had not earned on average 4/- per week for the last five months. But, there is a contradictory sign of his success as the National Portrait Gallery holds a carte de visite by B.Rangel showing addresses of "246 Regent Street and Penmaenmawr NW". In 1861 Blas Rangel was listed in the census return as la lodger in South Street Greenwich acting as clerk to a commissioning agent. He has not been found in the 1871 or 81 census returns, possibly because his unusual name has been mis-transcribed.
References: Mike Petty, The Photographers, (a handlist of local photographers), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Collection, 1992.
New Photographic Studio, Roman Rooms, Jesus Lane, Cambridge Chronicle 23/5/1868
PO Directory of the Counties of Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk, Kelly and Co London Aug 1869
North Wales Chronicle 12 June 1875. Cambridge Independent Press 23rd November 1878
www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portraitLarge/mw126422/Michael-Pakenham-Edgeworth?LinkID=mp87714&role=art&rNo=0

Name: RAPID PHOTO CO
Address: 24 Narrow Bridge Street, Peterborough 1914 (later at Princes Street, Peterborough)
Working Dates: c.1914
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Produced real photograph local postcards, and may have had other activities. The example postcard below is a river scene from the River Ouse at St Neots, it is one of a series numbered 3. This was postally used in May 1915. The reverse shows this is one of a "Rapid Series" and the company address is shown as Princes Street, Peterborough. Also below is a portrait of an unknown woman 1920s, on brown textured card mount 4.25 x 2.75 inches with Rapid Photo impressed into the mount, reverse blank (author's collection)
References: Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire 1914

Postcard by Rapid Photo Co riverscene St Neots

Portrait by Rapid Photo

Name: RATTLE, Douglas William b: 1918 d: 2002
Address: 16, Corrie Road Cambridge, Cambridge
Working Dates: c. - 1957
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: Doug Rattle was a photographer/printer employed by Edward Leigh. He trained Frank Bird when Frank joined the firm in 1957, but left shortly afterwards. Frank remembers him as a regular pipe smoker, usually producing clouds of tobacco smoke which emanated from the vents in the darkroom where he worked. Tom Johnson remember Doug started his career with the Cambridge News, later working for Stearn and Sons and for Campkins at their Mill Road Studio
References: Personal recollections of Frank Bird and Tom Johnson.

Name: RAWLINGS, David b: d:
Address: In 1980 no address given – just Peterborough. In 1986, Orchard House, 18 Downham Rd Outwell , Wisbech
Working Dates: c.1980 - 1986
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: commercial, industrial, advertising, architectural, PR, Video, portraits, weddings.
References: Peterborough Yellow Pages 1980, 1986

Name: RAWLINGS, Wilfred b: 18/9/1912 d:
Address: 59 Brampton Road, Cambridge
Working Dates: c.1939
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: In the 1939 Register Wilfred Rawlings is listed at the above address and his occupation is shown as "photographer to University". At the same address was Hylda Rawlings b: 6/8/1912.
References: 1939 Register.

Name: RAYCAD DRAUGHTING AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES b: d:
Address: 11 Laceys Lane Exning
Working Dates: c.1995
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information:
References: Cambridge Yellow Pages 1995

Name: RAYNER M.P.W. b: d:
Address: 27 Station Road Willingham
Working Dates: c.1990
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information:
References: Cambridge Yellow Pages 1990

Name: RAYNER, Thomas b: d:
Address: Long Causeway, Peterborough
Working Dates: c. 1862
Subjects, styles, advertising, other relevant information: A single directory entry of 1862 records Thomas Rayner as a photographer. No trace can be found of a photographer with this name in the census returns.
References: Slater's Directory of Northamptonshire 1862

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Photographers are listed alphabetically by surname on the following pages.

www.FadingImages.uk is a non-commercial web site for local and family historians, listing photographers in Cambridgeshire 1840-2000
This page was last modified: 27 August 2017, 18:27
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