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Portrait of sporting young man in white flannels standing in front of a bathing machine.
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Portrait of sporting young man in white flannels standing in front of a bathing machine.

Historic Photographs
Sarah Dyce
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Portrait of sporting young man in white flannels standing in front of a bathing machine.
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Historic Photographs
1648
Portrait of sporting young man in white flannels standing in front of a bathing machine.
Correspondent Ed Fowler has been in touch with the following information concerning this image:

"Bathing Machines were temporary changing rooms that were wheeled down to the beach strand. They allowed sea swimmers a ready facility of changing into bathing costumes or out of wet costumes after swimming in the sea.

The facility was spartan - just 2 bench seats - wet and dry sides perhaps and a small round vanity mirror at head level.

They were soon outmoded and removed from the beach and stored behind the Banner Mill for 1940's children, such as the writer, to explore and vandalise.

The well-built gentleman in this photograph was likely a self-appointed lifeguard of the era and maybe Scotland's champion swimmer and diver - Aberdeen's Mr Willie 'Moosie' Sutherland.

He was famed for his rescue successes at Aberdeen Beach, Walkers Dam and the River Dee and was an active member of the Dee Swimming Club and Bon Accord Club since 1865.

'Moosie' saved well over 100 Lives and was given a recognition of Rescue service award by Lord Provost Leslie in 1871 at the age of 27 years.

He died aged 42 on the 20th September 1886 his last competitive race was the first ever Dee to Don Estuaries swim in the same year."
Aberdeen Beach
Swimming
C09_18
Aberdeen Local Studies
Subjects
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