Mick McMahon and the Talma Studio - Part 2

(continued from Part 1)

Mick McMahon with his four eldest children
Postcard format photograph taken at Te Karaka by Kate McMahon, c.1909-1910
Courtesy and collection of Jacquelyn McMahon

Michael McMahon soon announced that he would be opening in new premises on 24 June, located on the Strand between Tanner Bros' butchery and Bateman’s drapery, and called the “Talma Studios.”

The Strand, Tauranga. c.1914-1915. Unidentified photographer, possibly by Michael McMahon
Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0608/08

Although the photograph above merely has “M. McMahon Hairdesser” above the shopfront, the rooms behind and above were commodious, well lighted and equipped with a modern camera and the requisite furniture. Mr Walter Menzies Bayne, with almost three decades of previous experience in Auckland and further afield, most recently with RH Bartlett, was appointed as manager of the photographic department, presumably the developing and printing side of the business.
NOTE: There were several other Talma Studios in New Zealand and Australia, and it seems likely that some at least were in imitation of Andrew Barrie’s Talma Studio in Melbourne, well known for catering to the theatrical establishment.

Mount Maunganui and Motuotau (Rabbit Island), Tauranga.
Postcard by Talma, Photographers. The M. McM. Series No. 46 (Michael McMahon)
Image courtesy and collection of Justine Neal

Meanwhile McMahon was “prepared to visit all parts of the Tauranga County” and did so. Over the next nine months he published several dozen numbered postcard views inscribed, “Talma. Photo.” with the series number on the front in white lettering (produced by writing in black ink on the negative). He used generic, commercially available “New Zealand Post Card – One Penny” cardstock with “THE M. McM. SERIES.” hand-stamped on the back in black ink, and almost certainly would have sold them directly from his hairdressing shop on the Strand. However, there are suggestions that he also supplied postcards in bulk to other vendors, since at least one example (see below) is known with "Post Card Wilson Photos Auckland" stamped on the reverse. William Thompson Wilson published postcards from a studio in Remuera, Auckland between 1910 and 1917.

Waikato Hounds in Tauranga, c. September 1914, by Michael McMahon
Postcard by Talma Studio. 41. (stamped “Wilson Photos” on verso)
Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0208/09

By March 1915, however, McMahon had decided to leave Tauranga. He put his house up for sale and moved his family back to Poverty Bay. Tauranga probably wasn’t big enough to support two portrait photographic studios – and it’s clear that Meers concentrated on portraiture, although he too offered outside work – and the many of the clientele for his hairdressing shop were heading off to war.

Helping Cook. M. McM. 72. Posctard by Michael McMahon, c. 1916
Copy photograph courtesy and collection of Jacquelyn McMahon

Michael McMahon remained in Te Karaka and Gisborne for the rest of his life, operating a number of businesses. He appears to have continued with photography only for a couple of years, producing postcards showing views, local events and scenes of everyday life, the latter typified by the postcard view above. He died in Gisborne in 1953, aged 75, and is buried at Taruheru Cemetery.

Acknowledgements
I am grateful as ever for help from staff at Tauranga City Library, the Tauranga Heritage Collection and from genealogy volunteer Joy Edmonds. Marcel Safier of Brisbane kindly assisted with explaining the origins of the various Talma Studios in Australia. I am also indebted to Jacqui McMahon, granddaughter of Michael McMahon, who has shared her extensive family research and graciously allowed me to copy photos from her collection.

Sources
Papers Past
Electoral Rolls
Wise’s Directory
Auckland Library Photographers Database
Auckland Library Heritage Images