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When we get a chance to look at vintage photos, it always seems that things were completely different back in the day and it’s just so hard to imagine what life was like back then before modern technology took over.

25 years ago Bill Nelson, a vintage photography enthusiast, found a packet of negatives at an estate sale in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has been trying to find as much information about these black and white photos as possible. “The negatives themselves are about 10 cm x 12.5 cm and are cut from roll film. The film stock is quite brittle and is, I believe, nitrocellulose, so I store them in a freezer. Because they are fragile and inevitably degrading, I took the time to scan these old photos at a high resolution. Still, it’s quite remarkable they survived at all, given their indifferent treatment for the first 90 years of their existence,” Bill told Bored Panda.

According to him, photos like these can give a palpable connection to the period in European countries and an opportunity to know it differently than you would from modern histories.

Scroll down to see these interesting photos yourself, and don’t forget to tell us what you think in the comments.

More info: Bill Nelson

#1

Four Boys From Volendam, Netherlands

Four Boys From Volendam, Netherlands

Bill Nelson Report

#2

Cockington Forge, Devon, England

Cockington Forge, Devon, England

Bill Nelson Report

#3

Tourists At The Frauenkirche, Nürnberg, Germany

Tourists At The Frauenkirche, Nürnberg, Germany

Bill Nelson Report

#4

Mother And Daughter On Mountain Top, Austria

Mother And Daughter On Mountain Top, Austria

Bill Nelson Report

#5

Two Gentlemen, London

Two Gentlemen, London

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#6

Market, Bayreuth, Germany

Market, Bayreuth, Germany

Bill Nelson Report

#7

Men And Girl On The Docks, Marken, Netherlands

Men And Girl On The Docks, Marken, Netherlands

Bill Nelson Report

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catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, let's clarify this, folks. I meant she *looks* like a little Dutch girl. She's wearing the traditional clothing. So you can all get your panties out of a bunch.

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#8

Net Mender, Étretat, Normandy, France

Net Mender, Étretat, Normandy, France

Bill Nelson Report

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#9

Oldest Man In Clovelly, England

Oldest Man In Clovelly, England

Bill Nelson Report

#10

Mature Woman On Bench

Mature Woman On Bench

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Mimi
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keeping in mind they didn't have modern detergent let alone washing machines and dryers. Life must have been so much more hard work!!

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#11

Omnibuses, London, England

Omnibuses, London, England

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#12

Girls In Cottage, Marken, Netherlands

Girls In Cottage, Marken, Netherlands

Bill Nelson Report

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BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too bad you can't see the colors in this photo. Must have been beautiful.

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#14

Steigersgrachtwater, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Steigersgrachtwater, Rotterdam, Netherlands

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Stille20
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The funny thing about this one is if you hadn't told me, I would not have realized how old the photo was.

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#16

On The Charles Bridge, Prague, Czechoslovakia

On The Charles Bridge, Prague, Czechoslovakia

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Melinda Rose
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great picture! But there was no Czechoslovakia in 1904. It was Bohemia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

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#17

Steep Street, Clovelly, Devon, England

Steep Street, Clovelly, Devon, England

Bill Nelson Report

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Take a look on google streetview - the place still looks the same.

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#18

Laundry On The Beach, Étretat, France

Laundry On The Beach, Étretat, France

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Pollypocket81
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such hardship to have clean clothing etc. These days people complain about turning a n*b in, and having to empty the machine when the job is finished for you. Oh how we "evolve" lol

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#19

Asparagus Sellers, Vienna, Austria

Asparagus Sellers, Vienna, Austria

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Lou Wow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am trying to imagine someone saying "asparagus" in an Austrian accent. 😁

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#22

Zwinger Palace, Dresden, Germany

Zwinger Palace, Dresden, Germany

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Ged Maybury
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dresden? Oh dear. ... Yup: "The building was mostly destroyed by the carpet bombing raids of 13–15 February 1945. The art collection had been previously evacuated, however. Reconstruction began in 1945, ...By 1963 the Zwinger had largely been restored to its pre-war state." Wikipedia

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#23

Cheese Market In Alkmaar, Netherlands

Cheese Market In Alkmaar, Netherlands

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Geert van der Ploeg
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This ceremonial market process is still carried out every friday during summer

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#24

Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

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#28

Organ Grinder And Daughter, London

Organ Grinder And Daughter, London

Bill Nelson Report

#29

Woman With Heavy Basket, Location Uncertain

Woman With Heavy Basket, Location Uncertain

Bill Nelson Report

#30

Punting At Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, England

Punting At Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, England

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#31

School Children, Netherlands

School Children, Netherlands

Bill Nelson Report

#34

Caveé Saint-Firmin, Montreuil-Sur-Mer, France

Caveé Saint-Firmin, Montreuil-Sur-Mer, France

Bill Nelson Report

#35

Roadside Shrines, Austria

Roadside Shrines, Austria

Bill Nelson Report

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Jaguarundi
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are shrines like that along the roadsides here in the states.

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#36

Ornate Doorway- Eglise St. Maclou, Rouen, France

Ornate Doorway- Eglise St. Maclou, Rouen, France

Bill Nelson Report

#37

Group Of Women On The Shore, France

Group Of Women On The Shore, France

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The women seem to be in a hurry to get the fish to market, fresh as can be after the boats came in.

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#38

Chateau De Coucy In 1904, France

Chateau De Coucy In 1904, France

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julien
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Château de Coucy has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1862, and is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux. currently being restored.

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#40

Frenchwoman And Her Geese

Frenchwoman And Her Geese

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#42

The Boat Crush, Eights Week, 1904 Oxford, England

The Boat Crush, Eights Week, 1904 Oxford, England

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#43

Bavaria, Germany

Bavaria, Germany

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Adrienne Varvil
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"So she says to me..Gotta hankie? As if i would give her the time of day after refusing to give me her strudle recipe, and all the guff i take from her on the holidays, her with her perfect schnitzle and how shes always mooning over my Roger..do i have a HANKIE?

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#44

Linderhof, Ludwig Ii's Palace In Bavaria

Linderhof, Ludwig Ii's Palace In Bavaria

Bill Nelson Report

#45

Mrs. Dixon And Alice, London, England

Mrs. Dixon And Alice, London, England

Bill Nelson Report

#46

Men Killing Time, Germany

Men Killing Time, Germany

Bill Nelson Report

#47

Kibitzers, Etretat, Normandy, France

Kibitzers, Etretat, Normandy, France

Bill Nelson Report

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#48

This Is A No Longer Existing Windmill Called "De Maagd" In Dordrecht, Netherlands

This Is A No Longer Existing Windmill Called "De Maagd" In Dordrecht, Netherlands

Bill Nelson Report

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Purple light
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

De Maagd means the Virgin. It was not a reference to the virgin Mary, but a personification of the city of Dordrecht.

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#49

Men And Boat, Marken, Netherlands

Men And Boat, Marken, Netherlands

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BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cant imagine living by the sea. It was such a part of their lives.

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#50

Museum Of Natural History, Vienna, Austria

Museum Of Natural History, Vienna, Austria

Bill Nelson Report

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#51

Market, Bayreuth, Germany

Market, Bayreuth, Germany

Bill Nelson Report

#52

Two Men On Road, France

Two Men On Road, France

Bill Nelson Report

#53

Laundry Day, Marken, Netherlands

Laundry Day, Marken, Netherlands

Bill Nelson Report

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#54

The Quay At Clovelly, Devon, England

The Quay At Clovelly, Devon, England

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#55

Street Vendors Below Josef's Fountain, Vienna, Austria

Street Vendors Below Josef's Fountain, Vienna, Austria

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BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting to see people working and going about their day.

#56

Cutting Hay With Oxen, Germany

Cutting Hay With Oxen, Germany

Bill Nelson Report

#57

Quay, Clovelly, Devon, England

Quay, Clovelly, Devon, England

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#58

Oxford, England

Oxford, England

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BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

#60

Steep Street, Clovelly, Devon, England

Steep Street, Clovelly, Devon, England

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Karin Gibson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they still use sledges to take their shopping home as motorised vehicles are not allowed in the village.

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#61

Market, Nürnberg, Germany

Market, Nürnberg, Germany

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Ess Ess
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are you a horticultural historian? Napthalene, creosote, and petrolium oils were often used to treat crops - they didn't even know it was harmful to humans.

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#63

Women Gathering Hay

Women Gathering Hay

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#64

The Cliffs At Étretat, Normandy, France

The Cliffs At Étretat, Normandy, France

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#65

Chateau De Coucy, Near Étretat, Normandy

Chateau De Coucy, Near Étretat, Normandy

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Zenozenobee
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mmmh, the Chateau de Coucy is so not near Etretat that it's not even in Normandy ;p It's been partly destroyed by German army in 1917 coucy-5b9a...80baf4.jpg coucy-5b9a5fe80baf4.jpg

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#66

Man And Couple, Germany

Man And Couple, Germany

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Tom Spade
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chaperone? To make sure and certain that no penis is deployed during this coup...

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#67

Doorways, Vienna, Austria

Doorways, Vienna, Austria

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BusLady
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, the construction of these buildings would take a lot of man hours. Lovely.

#68

Man With Dog Cart, Netherlands

Man With Dog Cart, Netherlands

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Amanda Ford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nowadays that would be labeled animal cruelty and all hell would break loose.

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#69

Laundry Day, Marken, Netherlands

Laundry Day, Marken, Netherlands

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bvw
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you visit Marken (near by Volendam) you will be amazed! Some people still do it in this way.

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#70

Spuiwater Canal, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Spuiwater Canal, Rotterdam, Netherlands

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#71

Two Windmills Along A Canal In Landsmeer, Netherlands

Two Windmills Along A Canal In Landsmeer, Netherlands

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#72

Volendam Street, Netherlands

Volendam Street, Netherlands

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bvw
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Volendam you still can get photo's of you're self in those traditional cloths. And some people still wear them

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#73

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

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#74

Marken, Netherlands

Marken, Netherlands

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#75

Friedens-Engel Memorial In Munchen, Germany

Friedens-Engel Memorial In Munchen, Germany

Bill Nelson Report

#76

Vienna Burgtheater, Vienna, Austria

Vienna Burgtheater, Vienna, Austria

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#77

Blue Ball Inn, Countisbury, Lynmouth, Devon, England

Blue Ball Inn, Countisbury, Lynmouth, Devon, England

Bill Nelson Report

#78

Hoher Markt, Vienna, Austria

Hoher Markt, Vienna, Austria

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#79

Eights Crew At Keble College Barge

Eights Crew At Keble College Barge

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#80

Fishermen Launching A Boat, Étretat, France

Fishermen Launching A Boat, Étretat, France

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#81

Château De Fréfossé, Normandy, France

Château De Fréfossé, Normandy, France

Bill Nelson Report

#82

Helblinghaus, Innsbruck, Austria

Helblinghaus, Innsbruck, Austria

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#83

Tower And Wall, Nürnberg, Germany

Tower And Wall, Nürnberg, Germany

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#84

Building Shocks, Germany

Building Shocks, Germany

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#85

The Ship Inn, Porlock Weir, Somerset, England

The Ship Inn, Porlock Weir, Somerset, England

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#86

Stone Wall, Nürnberg, Germany

Stone Wall, Nürnberg, Germany

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#87

Marken, Netherlands

Marken, Netherlands

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#88

London, England

London, England

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#89

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

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#90

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

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#92

Ireland

Ireland

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#93

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

Fishermen, Étretat, Normandy, France

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