Updated: Posted 11 Feb 2013:
Hi Will,
I’ve just accidentally come across the request for info on Jim Archer by his grandson.
I worked for Jim from the start of Industrial photographic at St Pauls, until after just after the move to Farringdon Road.
I know quite a lot about this larger than life character and the last time I saw him was in 1979 at Stanmore.
BTW, I’ve never heard of The Bassano Studio. When Jim took me on in 1964, he was still working at Hatton Photographic!
However, if Luke would care to contact me, I may be able to fill in a few gaps.
Best,
Bill Rose
Posted Aug 8 2012
© James Archer
PPHP reader Luke Archer writes:
Hello Will
I was pointed in your direction by Suzy from the PA. I am not sure if you can help, I would love to discover more of my Grandadfathers pictures – not sure if his negs are sitting in an archive somewhere! Attached is his image of Richard Burton and a picture of him photographing Elizabeth Taylor.
© James Archer
Here is what little information I know about him, (he died before I was born):
James ( Jim ) Archer
He worked for the Herald newspaper – think he probably worked for other Fleet Street papers, I think he enjoyed the culture which went with it!
Think he may have worked for the PA as well
I have seen a picture story he did for Unilever magazine – not sure if he did that regularly
One story is that at some point there was a controversial royal portrait being painted ( forgotten who, dont think it was the Queen more like a princess) , which was kept under wraps – through some means he managed to photograph it before it was released to the press / public, he got the only picture and that paid for his house!
He later bought the Bassano Studio ( I have done a project on this http://www.lukearcherphotography.co.uk/inheritance/)
The studio later became Industrial Photographic – sorry i don’t have much more information! I believe he would have been active as a photographer from 1950s – 1970s
Any info to [email protected] and I will put you in touch with Luke – or go through his site from the Bassano link above
