SOMERTON MAN MYSTERY, REVEALED, HOW THE PENCIL MARKINGS WERE INKED OVER...

 

'The Somerton Man Code Page markings are now being decrypted, the process of extracting the small writings is underway. In the meantime here's a post on how photographers would have inked over and modified images in the 1940s and earlier, and a warning, there's quite a surprise in amongst their kit...'

This is a good time to look at just how the 'inking over' of the original pencil markings/indentations was done. For some time I have been researching the topic of photography including forensic photography from the relevant times for this Somerton Man case, but the one thing that had eluded me was just how, whichever agency was involved, had 'inked over' the markings left by the indentations. Not only that but how some of the Somerton Man images may have been modified:

Above you can see a set up that was used, a drawing board of sorts, a 'gooseneck', which I think in the SM case would also have included a lamp plus the magnifying glass as shown.

                                                                                           

In these next images, to the left and below you can see the very fine detail work that could be carried out. I have included a 'mockup' showing the code page under a magnifying glass as a visual aid.

This is how I see the work of delicately and painstakingly 'painting over' of the now darkened impressions left by the pencilled indentations was carried out. Someone had a rig not that dissimilar to this one.

In fact it would not be that much of a stretch to suggest that this is likely how Detective Sergeant Leane may have carried out his examination of the Somerton Man code page and how it was inked over. but by an expert hand.

As you can see, very fine paintbrushes were used for this kind of work.

Just how fine you can see in the following image below.

A range of brush sizes was available for photographers to carry out their job of enhancing and modifying their work where necessary.

From a very fine '0' to a number '8' brush for standard brushwork, a wide and flat 'red sable' brush for larger areas. 

Lastly amongst the kit, we find a very interesting brush in use by photographers at the time. A round, stiff-bristled stencil brush. Didn't they find one just like that in the suitcase? You would have to wonder why they called in an expert to identify what kind of brush it was.

And here we have a range of different shades of grey to complete the photographers palette:

 Fortunately, this same manual from which these images came, also contained examples of how effectively these touch-up kits could be used.

Below is an original image:

And here is the modified image:

The above shows a good example of how areas of an image can be isolated and 'cleaned-up'

The post mortem and pre-burial images of the Somerton Man were also modified and as you can see the kit to do that work was readily available.

One last image from the manual. This one deals with creating plates for halftone work, interestingly it talks of the use of zinc as the substrate for photographic plates:

LITTER?

I hope this post has filled in some gaps as to what process was used by Detectives and their photographic teams at the time. It is also perhaps an indication of just how easy it would have been to organise various items with which to fill a suitcase which was later to be found. This will be the subject of another post.

For those interested, the manual from which these images came is this one, 'Short Cuts to Photo Retouching' By Raymond Wardell. 

COMING SOON

'WHEN FRIENDS WERE REALLY ENEMIES'

Deceit, treachery and betrayal were characteristics of certain Australians both during WW2 and in the Cold War years. What kind of people were they that would pass top secret information to a foreign power knowing that their actions could result in putting many at risk at the very least and costing the lives of thousands at worst?

This upcoming post will give examples of how during the times leading up to the finding of the body of the Somerton Man on December 1st. 1948, Soviet agents recruited and turned many senior and trusted public servants and politicians. It still goes on today and not just in politics.