(Old black & white photographs supplied by Norman Bilger, Sandusky, Ohio, color photographs by Alan Bilger .)

The Photographs of Irvin E. Bilger

Irvin Elmer Bilger, a farmer, who lived near Bellevue, Ohio really enjoyed photography and we should be eternally grateful that he did.   When Irvin wasn't farming, taking care of his horses or making his own wine or beer, he was taking pictures.  He has provided us, to use a well worn phrase, "a glimpse into another time".   Using equipment that for the time was cutting edge technology with, literally, a box camera with it's expanding bellows that connected the "box" and enclosed glass negatives to the lens at the front. It looks similar to the camera's that Matthew Brady's camera crews used to take the many images we see of the epic battles and mundane camp life of the Civil War.
Today, we would find his box camera in a museum as it still remains in extremely good condition. The kit (see photo), is still complete with its assortment of lens, booklets, shroud and spare wooden glass negative frames although the tripod it once mounted onto is gone. The wooden negative frames or holders held two glass plates, which later were replaced with celluloid, and their accompanying metal slide-out plates that protected the negatives from light until removed to "take" the picture. Many of the glass plates, that remain, still have images on them, some of which there are no prints for. The celluloid plates didn't fare as well over time as they all seemed to have begun to curl and shrink. The camera itself is a "Conley" and was made in 1910 although the kit may have been purchase through Sears and Roebuck as the booklet (see photo below) accompanying the kit is identified as the same.

Irvin often took many of his photo's of people against a simple draped sheet back-drop usually with the same two carpets to give the impression of a studio setting. The unevenness of the carpet or a clump of grass or even snow tracked onto the carpeting, however, gave away the illusion and revealed his studio was the outdoors and the sun was his lighting (see photo below). Irvin seemed to have taken many of these pictures together as groups on the same day and setting which given the setup required does not seem unusual. He did not, however, seem adverse to taking more spontaneous images of work around the farm such as at harvesting time. Note the following picture, (see photo) taking particular notice of the corn that seems to be "falling" into the wagon. If you look closely you may pick out the wire threaded through the corn to produce the illusion. Also note what appears to be his brother William with his hand on the drive belt coming from the steam tractor and driving the corn husker/blower. Irvin seems to have gone to extremes to make such images come alive given the limitations of the camera with it's slow lens.

Irvin seems to have enjoyed "playing" with his camera taking a wide variety of pictures from  ordinary life around the farm, to extraordinary  natural events such as the Akron Flood of 1913 (left) or a 1936 Bellevue snow storm (right). 

 He also seemed to have an affinity for taking pictures of any kind of machinery (see photos) from steam tractors, trains, shovels and sawmills to cars, horse and buggy, wagons and electric trolley's. Events such as harvesting corn, wheat, or potatoes, slaughtering hogs, sawing lumber or a gathering to sample his latest wine or beer also were potential subjects for his camera (see photos).

Irvin's pictures of people range  from that of school children and their teachers (see photo) to the governor of Ohio, James M. Cox, who appears in several different photos (see photos) and appears to have visited him at various times.  Apparently Irvin and William were good friends of Ohio Democratic Governor James M. Cox who often came by as they shared a passion for horses, beer and winemaking and fishing at Cedar Point

  Irvin even tried his hand at trick photography as one picture (see photo) has him and his brother William appearing twice in the same image at either end of a wagon of harvested potatoes.

Irvin's photographic career was not without it's problems however as any time glass plates are involved, the possibility of breakage is inevitable (see photo) as well as the potential for problems with his attempts to spice up his photographs. The application of these borders to the printed images probably came early in his attempts at photography gradually tapering off as the novelty wore off. Alignment of the photos was a likely problem as well (see photo).

 Despite these problems, Irvin persevered, producing a rich collection of images that perhaps won't win a Pulitzer prize, but which provide a better idea as to the life and times at the turn of the century of members of our family. Our understanding of those times is greatly aided by this collection which could just as easily have been lost! (Many of these photos were found during renovation of Irvin's former farm house having been found in a wall cavity where they had apparently been discarded).

Photo Gallery - circa 1910's
Power House-Middleburg	York High School Band	John & Aaron Hummel	William Bilger-at play
Sawing lumber-Snyder Co.	Middleburg Bakery&Clayton Bilger	Farm truck at Irvin's farm	Irvin Bilger-binding corn
William Bilger-at work	Railroad behind Irvin's farm	1914 Model "T" & Snyder Co 'Siblings'	Ohio Governor James M. Cox in 1913-1915,1917-1919 & 1919-1921