Early Photographic Processes

Tintype

or Ferrotype

Tintype Photograph from the USA  -  Where and when might it have been taken

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Mike Maltz, Houston, Texas, USA

Question

Mike Maltz, Houston, Texas, USA, asks about the tintype photo above.

Mike wrote:

Photograph taken where and when?

"This photo is approx. 2.5 ins x 3.75 ins, and is in excellent condition. *

I have studied by glass and the gun may be a percussion shotgun.  I'm not sure.  The dog is possibly a black lab.

Some say that this picture is European, others say it is American." 

* The original photo was somewhat duller, like many tintypes, so I increased the contrast in order to bring out more detail in the image.   -  Peter Stubbs.

If you have any views on the likely origin of this tintype, please email me, and I'll pass on your message to Mike.

Thank you. -  Peter Stubbs:  March,19, 2007

 

Reply

Thank you to J M Haynes, Longview, Texas, USA for sending the following reply:

The Guns

"The sixgun on the left looks like an 1858 Remington and the one on the right looks like an 1860 Colt. The 1858 Remington is often referred to as the Beal's Army Revolver in the books.

However, that's not a very helpful clue to the age of this tintype."

Cattle Herding

"The era of herding cattle north from Texas lasted only from 1867 to 1887, and this was no glamorous job. Cowboys received rock bottom wages for gruelling and dangerous work. This was a job that lured few Easterners eager for adventure.

By the time the cowboy life had become romanticized in dime novels and periodicals, the cattle herding days were already over."

Wild West Shows

"If these really are Alabamians, I would suggest something the Hollingsworth descendant is probably not going to like.  A "cowboy craze" swept the American East even as the Old West was disappearing."

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show began performing in the Eastern US and later Europe beginning in 1884, and ran until 1906. It was during this time that city slickers could, at the Buffalo Bill show and at many photo studios throughout the East, dress up in cowboy attire and have their images captured for posterity."

Clothes

"The shirts on these men are nothing real cowboys would wear. Fringe on the sleeves indicate these are theatrical costumes. The clothes on the tall, slim fellow don't fit, and would be completely unsuitable as work clothes. Evidently the photographer didn't have his size."

Studio Props

"The props for such photography sessions would of course include six shooters, but they would be obsolete pieces of little value. Both revolvers in this image would fit the bill.  The Remington especially was unpopular because it was so heavy.

Both these revolvers used percussion caps and black powder, and consequently were prone to misfires, and chain firing of all rounds at once.

Also note the cast iron hitching post. Architectural cast iron appeared in New York City in the late 1840's, but was not used at Chicago in the Mid-West until after the 1871 fire.

For Alabama, cast iron would not date before the 1870's. In the American South, beginning in about 1850 and for decades afterward, hitching posts and railroad ties tended to be made from Bois D'Arc wood.  Termites won't touch it, and the wood is highly resistant to rot and decay."

Conclusion

"So my bet is on this being a vintage 1890-1900 costume photograph."

J M Haynes, Longview, Texas, USA:  September 2 + 3, 2006

 

Response from the owner of the Tintype

Thank you to John Hollingsworth who replied:

Around 1900

"The writer was absolutely correct!

Since I sent you the old tin-type, I have learned more about it.  Actually, I received a second copy of this photo from a relative with these details on the little envelope:

"Taken 68 yrs ago from this date March 25th 1958."

Apparently the photo was taken March 25th 1890.

The tall guy is William David Hollingsworth born March 25, 1869 in St. Clair Co., Alabama.  So, the photo was taken on his 21st birthday.  I am not sure of the identity of the shorter guy - possibly his brother, James Henry."

John Hollingsworth of Alabama, USA:  September 5 + 6, 2006

 

Tintype Photos

 

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EdinPhoto - Home Page      Please send me an e-mail ...  with your questions, comments, suggestions or news.      At any time, you can search for a word  -  perhaps a photographer's name or a photographic topic.  The search will produce a list of pages on the EdinPhoto web site where this word appears.            At any time, you can search for a word  -  perhaps a photographer's name or a photographic topic.  The search will produce a list of pages on the EdinPhoto web site where this word appears.

Photographs and Other Images  -  These include portraits of photographers  -  photographic outings -  Princes Street views  -  Newhaven Fishwives  -  etc.  Early Photography in Edinburgh  -  Talbot, Brewster, Hill & Adamson, Early Professional Photographers in Princes Street, etc.  Professional Photographers in Edinburgh  -  1840 to 1940  -  Their names, dates of business and studio addresses.  The Photographic Society of Scotland  -  1856 to 1873  -  Lectures, Exhibitions, Outings, etc.  The History of Edinburgh Photographic Society  -  1861 to date  -  Lectures, Exhibitions, Outings, Poems, etc.  EPS Publications - EPS Handwritten Records  -  Photographic Journals  -  Trade Directories  -  Books  -  etc.  Thanks to all who have encouraged and supported me in creating the EdinPhoto web site  -  including descendants of photogrpahers  -  researchers  -  providers of photographs and other material  Background notes on the research thal led up to the creation of this site  -   together with lists of new material added to the site since its launch.  Brief comments on how this site might be used  -  Just browsing?  -  Seeking specific information?  Please add your questions, suggestions or other comments to the Guest Book.  Links to other web sites  -  Photographic Societies  -  Photographic History  -  Family History  -  etc.  Click here to find the link to the Edinburgh Photogrpahic Society web site.  Details of who owns the copyright of photographs and other mateiral on this web site.

A selection of my photographs, many from Edinburgh throughout the year.   Also photos from Scotland, London, Iceland, Italy, Hong Kong and elsewhere    Many old maps of Edinburgh (Old Town, New Town, while City), Leith and Newhaven.  Includes several old transport maps and a comparison of old maps with recent aerial photos.   Old engravings, mailly of Edinburgh scenes.  Some from the 1820s, some from the 1890s,  some others - includes many hand-coloured examples from the 1820s.   News from Edinburgh today  -  Events, Collections, Buildings and Gardens, Transport   This site includes     1. Post card portraits taken in studios in Edinburgh:    2. Post card views either takeen/published by Ediburgh photographers or views of Edinburgh, or both.y Edinburgh    Views of Edinburgh, grouped into three sections:     1. Street views:    2. Buildings:    3. Around Edinburgh   Views of transport around Edinburgh  -  Horse drawn trams and buses, cable cars, electric trams, buses and a few railway photos.  Also several maps of Edinburgh's bus and tram routes.   Summary of the updates added to this site each month since the site was launched   Frequently Asked Questions

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