A GUARDIAN-turned-global appeal to uncover the mystery behind the forgotten 1930s photos has developed an interesting twist.

Earlier this year, Tabley resident Michala Hulme appealed for readers help after discovering decades-old film tucked inside her birthday surprise – a 1926 AGFA box-camera from Knutsford Antiques.

The identity of the woman and her male companions in the photos stumped the genealogist and her search was subsequently picked up by national and international press.

Despite the story grabbing headlines, the 31-year-old is no wiser as to who the people in the photos are. But a recent discovery may give vital clue to finally revealing the identity of the mystery woman on the platform.

“After thinking the camera was bought in Stockport, I then found out it was bought in Manchester and there was two of them in the lot,” Michala said.

“Both cameras were bought together from the auction and then were placed in Knutsford Antiques. And it also had film in it. I thought someone was having a laugh – it was just so weird.”

Michala bought the other camera – a new model of the first Agfa, dating from the 1950s/60s – and developed the film inside.

Three images were retrieved showing a woman on her holidays and Michala believes it is the same woman from the set of war-time photos from the first camera, but pictured in the 1960s.

She added: “Whoever owned the cameras certainly lied to travel, as the first one is at a train station and in the second one the lady appears to be abroad.

“All the pictures in the camera are of the same lady, so I imagine that whoever was taking the photos must have been a loved one.

“Going abroad on holiday was quite expensive in those days, so I imagine the lady must have been quite well off.”

Michala hopes this new development will help piece the story together and finally unveil the identity of the holidaying woman and her war-time companions.

“The response to the first photographs has been amazing, I think the story has really captured people's imagination,” Michala said.

“I even got a Hollywood actor to share the story. However, I am still no clearer as to who the people are so hopefully these latest pictures may help.”

Do you recognise the woman in the photos or the location? Comment below.

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AGFA cameras – a brief history.
AGFA was the abbreviation for Aktien-Gesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrikation, given in 1873 to a company that had been founded in Berlin in 1867. It produced chemicals for photography. When Agfa obtained the Rietzschel camera works in Munich from Bayer in 1925, it badged all Rietzschel products with its Agfa rhombus.
In 1926 it introduced the first real Agfa camera, the Standard, believed to be the earlier model owned by Michala. After WWII Agfa improved its pre-war models and introduced the new 35mm Solinette. In the early 1980s Agfa produced its last film cameras and Agfa gave up camera production in 1983.
Source: Camerapedia