Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Robert William Thomson - Illustrated London News March 29 1873

Robert William Thomson[edit]

Reason: I like it. And I don't think we have any other pictures of this interesting, if somewhat forgotten, Scottish inventor.
Proposed caption: The obituary of Robert William Thomson, inventor of the pneumatic tyre, the elliptic rotary steam engine and locomotive traction engine, the portable steam crane, and numerous other inventions. From the Illustrated London News of March 29, 1873
Articles this image appears in: Robert William Thomson
Creator: R & E Taylor, after a "Mr. Peterson of Copenhagen". Text by unknown journalist

Support as nominator Adam Cuerden ^talk 11:49, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I'm not too fussed what hppens to the text on the right. we can cut the remains of the previous obit., cut the whole thing, muck about with it - however you like. Adam Cuerden ^talk 12:13, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Comment I actually like the text, it adds to the overal aura. Yet is there anyway that you can find out who wrote it, namely who the journalist was and perhaps a bit about him. We wouldn't want some poor soul's work go unattributed now would we? :p Chris Buttigieg 14:53, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

W. S. Gilbert wrote for Fun at around this time, among other magazines. He republished some of it, but do you know the only way we can identify his work that wasn't republished? Because an editor's copy survives with notes in it as to who was paid for what. But we don't have one of those for the first few years, so we just have to guess. Some things are obviously his (A self-portrait in one ongoing series does help identification) but the rest... we can't know. For that matter, do you know how I know about the editor's copy? Because a friend told me to look up a Bulletin of the New York Public Library article from a couple decades ago.

In other words: I really doubt attribution's possible. I suppose you might have a chance if went to their offices in London, since they still exist, unlike Fun. But how helpful they'd be, I don't know. Adam Cuerden ^talk 16:01, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In that case it is alright; I wouldn't worry too much. Anyhow the focal feature is the portrait which is well illustrated in this case and I think the text acts as the perfect complement. I therefore support. Chris Buttigieg 18:50, 26 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Support Good quality. The article needs work, but there's no doubt this makes a fitting contribution to it. I agree with Chris Buttigieg, leave the (con)text as is. ~ Veledan • | T | 21:04, 25 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Support just came across this whilst browsing. Retention of the text is important IMHO to add enc. value. Pedro | Chat 13:14, 27 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Support Very sharp scan, also its PNG. :) vlad§inger ^tlk 16:54, 29 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted Image:Robert William Thomson - Illustrated London News March 29 1873.png MER-C 08:55, 1 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]