Why are these epaulets backwards?

J

JWSchroeder

New member
The epaulettes in this photo appear to be backward with the button at the shoulder and the stitching at the neck. Also there is no apparent regiment number on them. I have never seen a Prussia soldier with epaulets like this. Can anyone explain these inconsistencies?
The photo is from between 1882-1884. He is of the Graf Bülow von Dennewitz 55th IR 10th Company aka the 6th Westphalian Lippe Batalaion.
I appreciate any insights!
 

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I think it's due to the age and the photo quality. If you look closely, you can see the buttons faintly. But I think the lighting and focus weren't perfect at the time, which is why the details of the shoulder strap aren't clearly visible.
IMG_5435.jpeg
 
You are probably correct. The top is not very clear. Could be the button out of focus. Have any idea what the circle is at the bottom?
 
Sir, I personally tend to favor Mr. Sandmann's interpretation. The circle appears more likely to be caused by wear and tear on the photograph. According to available records, the shoulder straps of Infanterie-Regiment Graf Bülow von Dennewitz (6. Westfälisches) Nr. 55 were blue with red numeral "55". There were no additional somewhat.
JWSchroeder said:
You are probably correct. The top is not very clear. Could be the button out of focus. Have any idea what the circle is at the bottom?
Click to expand...
 
I think you are correct. I don’t understand why there is no 55 visible though. It is a pre 1895 regulations photo so maybe enforcement was lax - I don’t know. I also wonder if it’s a painting and the artist didn’t bother with details or if it was a photo that someone enhanced later.
 
Hi,
This photograph has two issues that make it hard to see anything on the shoulder straps. First, the photographer has retouched the image, and he seems to have outlined the shoulder straps and covered them in a lighter colour, making any numbers that might have been visible harder to see. Second, the image has been enhanced with AI. In the process, detail is added to the photo that was not originally there, based on the AI algorithm's prediction of what could have been there. The high level of detail and resolution of the face and hair doesn't match the low resolution of the uniform, typical for AI enhancement that is very much focused on faces. That AI algorithm is not made to enhance shoulder straps, and might actually have made it worse.
Would it be possible for you to post the original photo?
Regards,
Lars
 
Sorry I uploaded the incorrect photo. I meant to upload this one that has not been retouched at all. It has been in my possession since 1975. The previous Pixelup version was a mistake. You can still see the same artifacts in the original.
 

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Thanks,
It's a nice early picture :)
It does seem the photographer retouced something button-like at the bottom of the shoulder strap, don't know why. He also seems to have added a "Gefreiter" button to the collar.
Interesting to see how AI interpreted the grainyness of the picture as freckles / acne.
Regards,
Lars
 
Thanks. The photo is my great grandfather. I have no idea what the photographer may have added or retouched in the photo. He was definitely a gefreiter - I have his military passport which shows he was promoted in Dec. 25, 1881. Then in the reserve he was promoted to Unteroffizier June 21, 1884
 
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