John Falconer, British Library A Biographical Dictionary of 19th Century Photographers in South and South-East Asia | Commercial, India
To India in 1882 to join the photographic business of his brother-in-law G.W. Lawrie in Lucknow (until 1891?); had his own studios at Rawalpindi and Quetta by 1895, later with a Lahore branch. Quetta branch closed and Simla studio opened in Bourne and Shepherd’s old premises Talbot House in 1910. Bremner left India in 1923, although business continued until about 1932 (when it may have become the Hamilton Studios, Simla). Produced a number of books photographically illustrated in collotype at the turn of the century. He also wrote a memoir of his life, My forty years in India (privately printed by the Banffshire Journal Ltd., Banff and Turnilt, 1940).
1883-91 Assistant to G.W. Lawrie, photographers at Naini Tal and Lucknow.
1892-4 Not listed in directory.
1895 Frederick Bremner, photographer, Rawalpindi and Quetta, with assistant M. Kennedy.
1896-8 Frederick Bremner, photographer, Rawalpindi and Quetta.
1899-1904 Frederick Bremner, photographer, Quetta; Rawalpindi branch closed (apparently).
1905-7 Frederick Bremner, photographer, Quetta and Lahore.
1908 Frederick Bremner, ‘Photo-Artist and Enlarger’, Upper Mall, Lahore and Quetta.
1909 As for 1908, but with J.G.V. Brown listed as assistant.
1910 As for 1908, but with T. Barrett listed as assistant.
1911 Frederick Bremner, Photographer, Lahore, Simla and Quetta. Assistants T.H. Barrett, R.A. Banes.
1912 Frederick Bremner, Photographer, Talbot House, Simla, and Lahore. Quetta branch not listed.
1913 Bremner and Co., Talbot House, Simla. Prop. F. Bremner, assistant A.F. Scott, with branch Lahore.
1914-20 Bremner and Co., Photographer, Simla and Lahore. C.W. Barnside (or Burnside) listed as assistant, 1916-17.
1921- Bremner not listed as a resident after 1920.
1921-31 Bremner and Co., Photographer, Simla and Lahore.
1932 Bremner and Co., Photographer, Prince of Wales Buildings, Simla and Bombay. Manager B.L. Hider.
1933 Bremner and Co. not listed as a company. Hider listed as manager of the Hamilton Studios, Prince of Wales Buildings, Simla. Hamilton Studios probably Bremner’s business under another name.
Publications: Types of the Indian Army (n.d., c. 1900), with text by A.H. Bingley and 60 bromide prints by Bremner; The 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment ‘The Springers’ (n.d., c. 1900), with 26 collotypes reproductions from Bremner’s photographs; The 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment (n.d., c. 1900), with 38 collotypes; Baluchistan Illustrated, 1900 (1900), with 50 collotypes.
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