Gantner & Mattern Co.

Ned Scott approached this assignment with keen professionalism born of his training with the Camera Club of New York and his experience with early film assignments in Hollywood. His behavior in support of Gantner & Mattern’s photographic assignments went far beyond what is professionally correct in the commercial photo environment found today. Gantner & Mattern expected him to find suitable sweater and swimwear models from the local area around Los Angeles. These models had to be approved by Miss Edith Skemp, chief of the Advertising Department at G & M. Scott paid these models out of his own pocket, and then G & M reimbursed him for those costs. All photograph settings were outdoor venues, presenting challenges to the photographer which are not present in a controlled studio atmosphere. Ned Scott chose all backgrounds and props on his own with little guidance from Miss Skemp. This process led to disputes and misunderstandings, some quite colorful and amusing. Finished photographic prints of acceptable quality and style were accomplished after numerous steps including photo processing, proofing and approval, retakes if necessary and finally, retouching where needed. The bulk of correspondence between Miss Skemp in San Francisco and Ned Scott in Santa Monica went through the U.S. Post Office Department resources, and this included all letters, packages of clothing items, photo proofs for model approval and ad images and lastly, the finished prints. Railway Express and Parcel Post services were also utilized. Time was of the essence in mailing and this need often required the use of special delivery service, a quality service, by the way, which has completely disappeared from the postal scene today. Reading these letters which chronicle the business relationship with a major clothing manufacturer will give the researcher a sense of the scope of the work involved and the depth of Ned Scott’s commitment to that relationship. All dollar figures mentioned in these letters may be multiplied by a factor of 15 to get a sense of the monetary worth of the work performed in 2010 dollars.

Letters – 1937

Transcript of Letter #1: letter dated June 1, 1937 from Gantner & Mattern of 1453 Mission Street, San Francisco to Ned Scott at 479 Mesa Road, Santa Monica, California:

Mr. Vallejo Gantner recently mentioned that he had had a conversation with you about photography and he suggested that possibly you might have samples which you could submit for our inspection.

We do not know at what time we may have a special need for photographs, but if you work is along the lines of what we require, we should appreciate knowing it. Signed E. Skemp, Advertising Dept.

Transcript of letter #2: latter dated June 18, 1937:

It was very kind of Mr. Vallejo Gantner to write you of my work, and equally kind that you suggest I send samples for your inspection. The delay has been due to the fact that the bulk of the photographs which might interest you are at present in New York. I have been expecting them back momentarily, but I have only today learned that they will not be available for another week or ten days. As soon as they are returned to me I will send them on to you. Signed Ned Scott

Scans of original letters

Letters – 1938

Transcript of Letter #1 dated February 21, 1938 from Gantner & Mattern of 1453 Mission St., San Francisco, Calif., to Ned Scott, 479 Mesa Road, Santa Monica, Calif.

We were glad to receive the four shots from you, even though weather conditions did not make them all that you or we would have liked.

Two of them our retoucher may be able to bring up in emphasis enough to get the contrasting values required for reproductions and so we would like to have glossy prints of the monkey suit and the girl with her hand against the tank.

Although they do not represent the best possible samples of your work, they give us a very clear picture of what you could do under better atmospheric conditions. Best personal regards, Edith Skemp

Transcript of Letter #2 dated March 7, 1938 from Gantner & Mattern to Ned Scott:

Dear Mr. Scott:

We were sorry to have to ask you to duplicate the prints, but apparently they got held up in the South somewhere, for the two sets arrived within hours of each other.

As you suggested, we hall use the originals. They are retouched remarkably well, and having had the privilege of comparing hem with the rough proofs you first sent, we want to congratulate your retoucher on a beautiful job.

It has not yet been decided just where we will use the picture with the plain suit, but you may be interested in the reprint of a Photoplay advertisement using that of the monkey print.

If you have not yet billed us for these shots, please do so now. With the writer’s personal regards, Very Truly Yours, Edith Skemp

Letters – 1939

Letters – 1940-1941