Handwriting questions

Anything to do with Port.
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djewesbury
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by djewesbury »

DRT wrote:The first two letters could be "Fr".
Yes. It could be a lower case 'f' also - it could almost be 'friends' but the last letter is most definitely an 'm'. Or at least it's not a 'ds'.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I read it as "friend"
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Glenn E.
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Glenn E. »

Looks like "frieum" to me, which makes no sense. I suspect that "friend" was intended.
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Andy Velebil
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Andy Velebil »

It could be his last name, "Fieum" or "Feium"
PhilW
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by PhilW »

I see "Messrs Stanley and frien?".
1. Compare the n to previous ones, it is identical.
2. All other capitals are fully above the line, so I believe the f is most likely to be lower-case.
3. The end doesn't make much sense, with an odd up-stroke.
On the evidence, I would go with "friend"
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jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by jdaw1 »

“Messrs Stanley & friend” does not make sense in the context. Not, I hasten to add, that I have better.

Another, from the same catalogue—the usual participle acting on a colour is “sealed”. Not here.
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DRT
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by DRT »

Cemented.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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LGTrotter
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by LGTrotter »

jdaw1 wrote:“Messrs Stanley & friend” does not make sense in the context. Not, I hasten to add, that I have better.
Why ever not? I appreciate that I do not have the context here but it seems that Stanley might well have had an anonymous friend with him.
DRT wrote:Cemented.
This was my immediate thought but I bet it is dismissed.
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jdaw1
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by jdaw1 »

DRT wrote:Cemented.
LGTrotter wrote:This was my immediate thought but I bet it is dismissed.
I thought the same, but it was unusual in that context. Presumably those bottles were difficult to open.
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DRT
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by DRT »

Or sealed with some sort of plaster rather than wax?

...and I still think it is friend. Perhaps someone who didn't want his presence to be known? Perhaps a lover? Perhaps someone who just said "please put me down as his friend".
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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djewesbury
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by djewesbury »

Friend makes sense. It's just that the last letter really is an 'm'.
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Andy Velebil »

djewesbury wrote:Friend makes sense. It's just that the last letter really is an 'm'.
Exactly, hence why I thinks it's his last name.


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jdaw1
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by jdaw1 »

Image
Bowen McKechnie?
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Doggett
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Doggett »

jdaw1 wrote:Image
Bowen McKechnie?
Looking at the 'n' in 'vintage' in the line above I would agree. It is definitely not McKechmie but if they are 'special' with their lower k, it could possibly be McKenckie...but I think that unlikely.
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flash_uk
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by flash_uk »

jdaw1 wrote:Image
Bowen McKechnie?
I would say yes McKechnie - especially as that is a surname that is not uncommon, whereas other potential interpretations produce surnames I've never heard of. Bowen? Looks right, more common as a surname than a first name. Perhaps Bowen McKechnie is a partnership business of some sorts, rather than an individual.
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Glenn E. »

flash_uk wrote:Perhaps Bowen McKechnie is a partnership business of some sorts, rather than an individual.
Considering that the line below it appears to say "Corney & Barrow" I'd say that's likely.
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jdaw1
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by jdaw1 »

Settled: Bowen and McKechnie were whisky distillers. The firm still exists, at the same address as Allied Domecq. Thank you all.
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flash_uk
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by flash_uk »

jdaw1 wrote:The firm still exists
Not quite. The link says the company is dissolved. Also, it was incorporated in 1954, well after the port samples your handwriting refers to, were dispatched.
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jdaw1
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by jdaw1 »

There was a wine merchant Basil Woodd, but this isn’t it. Whence came this Offley 1868?
Image
Image
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Justin K »

Morse & Woods wine & spirit merchants.
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Justin K wrote:Morse & Woods wine & spirit merchants.
Agreed. But I can't figure out what the rest of the text says c
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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flash_uk
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by flash_uk »

Agree on Morse Woods. See here.

....
part ??? part ???
as may be arranged

??? took and paid for
10 doz or 120 bottles
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jdaw1
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by jdaw1 »

I am missing one word:

Nov 10/80. •¿?•, fine wine, but wants keeping, rich & sweet, very firm crust & good colour. R.J.

April 28/83. Very sweet. R.J.

Aug 6/84. Very fine wine, rich & good crust, rather too sweet, but flavor is behind. R.J.
Glenn E.
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by Glenn E. »

Looks like "Tried" to me...
Glenn Elliott
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Re: Handwriting questions

Post by LGTrotter »

Glenn E. wrote:Looks like "Tried" to me...
I see 'tried' as well.
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