From: Maux
DearMYRTLE,
Do you know, or have any idea how we can find out what dates tintypes were popular? I have one that has a name on it but we have a person by that name in two different generations. Thought if we knew when tintypes were in use it might help us determine which is in the picture. Thank you.
DearMAUX,
There have been many responses to the book review on Tuesday. Now Harold has got me going on this photo-genealogy! He has several books on the subject and helped me write today's article. Guess I'll have to fix him a special dinner tonight! Anyway, here is a brief summary of the basic types of photographs created and the time periods they were used:
DAGUERREOTYPE - Began use in late 1830, gained popularity by 1843 and continued in popularity through 1861, and declined in use until generally they stopped being produced in 1868. Involved mirror-silver followed by on-glass images.
CALOTYPE - Popular 1845-1855. Involved exposing light-sensitized paper in the large camera box, then washing with developer, water rinse, followed by hyposulfite to fix the image. After drying, this paper negative was placed on another sheet of light-sensitized paper, so a positive image was produced. It also was washed with developer, rinsed and fixed.
AMBROTYPE - Began use in 1850 gaining steady popularity through 1958, followed by a slow decline is usage which eventually dropped off by about 1875. These are distinguished by their heavy leather or wood frames with the black paper placed behind the collodion-based coated/exposed glass image. The images are kept in a case to protect the pieces from being separated. Typically an ambrotype includes a decorative front plate, an oval cut mat, the image on glass, the black paper, and a wooden backing, which holds all parts together. Ambrotypes are not as bright as daguerreotypes.
TINTYPE - (also known as malainotypes and ferrotypes) The image is created after the manner of ambrotype glass plates, except that the collodion emulsion coats thin metal. Therefore, tintypes were lighter weight and less costly to produce.
Tintypes began to be produced about 1854, hitting a peak time period of use in 1860, with a long slow decline though 1898. Therefore, if you have old family tintypes, you will need to consider other clues in the photo when attempting to determine the age of the photograph. Clothing and women's hairstyles will provide your greatest clues.
CARTE-DE-VISITE - Most popular 1860-1865 followed by a long, slow decline in usage ending about 1898. This process involved multiple portrait exposures on a single plate, typically 6 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches. This was the first form of mass-production of photos. After developing, the thin albumen paper multi-print was cut into individual images, which were mounted on the cards with flour paste.
CABINET CARD - 1865-1920. Typically four times larger than the Carte-de-Visites. Because of this increase in size, a skilled photographer could "touch up" the photo to eliminate blemishes. Cabinet card photos were typically presented in elaborate padded photograph albums with compartments to hold one or four cabinet cards per page. They were also displayed on mantles. Dating these photos involves looking at card colors, borders and corners. These differences are quite pronounced.
The photo is mounted on a variety of card stocks for backings as follows:
light weight white card stock 1866-1880
different colors for front and back of card 1880-1890
front: buff-colored, matte, back: light yellow, glossy 1882-1888
The border of the card stock around the mounted photo changed dramatically:
red or golden single or double lines 1866-1880
wide golden 1884-1885
golden beveled edge 1885-1892
single line border with rounded corners 1889-1896
metallic green or golden colored pressed border 1890-1892
pressed outer border no color 1896
The corners bear distinctive markings:
square, straight-edged on lightweight card stock 1866-1880
square, scalloped sides on heavyweight card stock 1880-1890
WET-PLATE PRINT - Began usage about 1853, very popular during the Civil War then slowly declining in popularity after 1885 until 1901. Sun exposure to treated glass plates as large as 18X22 inches. Typically one thinks of the great Mathew Brady Civil War photo-documentaries. Also popular were outdoor exposures of some of the great points of interest in the western wilderness, including the views beside the railroad lines, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite. Studio portraits made by this process were less stilted, since the exposure time was greatly reduced by the wet-plate process. Prints were made and mounted on heavyweight card stock.
STEROGRAPH - This involved using the small carte-de-visite type photos mounted in tandem on a card backing. Because the photos are almost identical when viewed through the optic lenses of the holder, the images blend to give a 3-dimensional look. Harold and I have one of these and about 25 sets of photos. My grandchildren love looking at these marvelous photos. Good bribery material!
Here are some good books on the subject:
Gernshiem, Helmut & Alison, The History of Photography, 1685-1914. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1969.
Gilbert, George, Photography: The Early Years - a Historical Guide for Collectors. New York, Harper & Row, 1980.
Shaw, Renata V., A Century of Photographs 1846-1946 - Selected from the Collections of the Library of Congress. Washington, Library of Congress, 1980.
Have fun climbing your family tree!
Myrt :)
———————————— DearMYRTLE ————————————
is a daily genealogy column (KEYWORD: dearmyrtle) published on America Online in the Genealogy Forum. Due to the volume of e-mail, Myrt is unable to respond to each individually. Representative samples are used as a basis for articles from time to time. Contact DearMYRTLE at: dearmyrtle@aol.com
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