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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

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    #2

    Cockington Forge, Devon, England

    Cockington Forge, Devon, England

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    #3

    Tourists At The Frauenkirche, Nürnberg, Germany

    Tourists At The Frauenkirche, Nürnberg, Germany

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    #4

    Mother And Daughter On Mountain Top, Austria

    Mother And Daughter On Mountain Top, Austria

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    #6

    Market, Bayreuth, Germany

    Market, Bayreuth, Germany

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    #7

    Men And Girl On The Docks, Marken, Netherlands

    Men And Girl On The Docks, Marken, Netherlands

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    BusLady
    Community Member
    6 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

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    #9

    Oldest Man In Clovelly, England

    Oldest Man In Clovelly, England

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    #10

    Mature Woman On Bench

    Mature Woman On Bench

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    Mimi
    Community Member
    6 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

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    BusLady
    Community Member
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

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    RaroaRaroa
    Community Member
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

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    #29

    Woman With Heavy Basket, Location Uncertain

    Woman With Heavy Basket, Location Uncertain

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    #30

    Punting At Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, England

    Punting At Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, England

    Bill Nelson Report

    #31

    School Children, Netherlands

    School Children, Netherlands

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    #34

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

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

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    #35

    Roadside Shrines, Austria

    Roadside Shrines, Austria

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    Jaguarundi
    Community Member
    6 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

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    #37

    Group Of Women On The Shore, France

    Group Of Women On The Shore, France

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    Monika Soffronow
    Community Member
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

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    #45

    Mrs. Dixon And Alice, London, England

    Mrs. Dixon And Alice, London, England

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    #46

    Men Killing Time, Germany

    Men Killing Time, Germany

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    #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
    6 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
    6 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

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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

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    #53

    Laundry Day, Marken, Netherlands

    Laundry Day, Marken, Netherlands

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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
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Interesting to see people working and going about their day.

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    #56

    Cutting Hay With Oxen, Germany

    Cutting Hay With Oxen, Germany

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    #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
    6 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    #59

    Dining Hall At Christ Church University, Oxford

    Dining Hall At Christ Church University, Oxford

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    #60

    Steep Street, Clovelly, Devon, England

    Steep Street, Clovelly, Devon, England

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    Karin Gibson
    Community Member
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    3 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

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    #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

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    #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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