James Good Tunny - Studio c.1850

Studios

Tunny & Asher
102 South Bridge	1867

James Good Tunny
78 South Clerk Street	1852-59
_ Causewayside	1860
93 Princes Street	1860-74
102 South Bridge	1869-72
6 West Newington *	1870
11 Salisbury Place	1871-86
13 Maitland Street	1875-87
19 Salisbury Place	1887
* This address appeared in the trade directories However, it was probably not a studio address, but Tunny's temporary address while work was being carried out on what was to become his new home and studio at 11 Salisbury Place.

J G Tunny & Co [following the death of J G Tunny in 1887]
13 Maitland Street	1888-98
19 Salisbury Place	1888-97
13a Maitland Street	1896-98
61 Shandwick Place	1899-09

Studio in 1852

James Good Tunny's first appearance in the Edinburgh Trade Directories as a photographer was in 1852. His studio was at 78 South Clerk Street.

Tunny's Studio - 1852

Studio in 1860

Tunny's business continued at several addresses. From 1860 to 1874, he was based at 93 Princes Street

An advert was placed in The Scotsman on 8 September 1860, reading:

J G TUNNY begs to inform his Friends and the general Public that his NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC ESTABLISHMENT, 93 PRINCES' STREET will be OPENED on MONDAY first, the 10th inst. and which will be under his personal superintendence.

The BUSINESS at the NEWINGTON PHOTOGRAPHIC ROOMS will be conducted by Mr SMITH, one of Mr Tunny's oldest assistants.

In the 1861 Census Tunny was described as "Photographer employing 2 men and 3 women". He was then with his wife, 4 sons, daughter, sister-in-law, nurse, cook, nursery maid and photographer's apprentice. [Census: 1861]

Studio in 1873

Thank you to Ron Cosens passing on a message from his friend, Alan Collier, to me drawing my attention to an article published in the Dundee Courier on 3 May1873 about one of J G Tunny's premises.

The article read:

Edinburgh Photographer's Premises Burned

"Our Edinburgh correspondent telegraphs: - Last night, about seven o' clock, the premises of two storeys occupied by Mr Tunny, photographer, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, were burnt to the ground.

Mr Tunny was working among some spirit of wine varnish, when some chemicals ignited and set the place on fire. The damage is estimated at upwards of £1,000."

Dundee Courier: Saturday 3 May, 1873

Studio in 1876

A full account of Tunny's studio at 13 Maitland Street, Edinburgh, written by John Nicol, appeared in the British Journal of Photography in 1876.

Tunny's Studio - 1876

Studio in 1867

Tunny was in partnership with Alexander Asher at 102 South Bridge for one year only, in 1867.

Studios in 1890

The company’s studios were described in 1890:

“A hall surrounded by some splendid specimens of photographic art, … , a finely furnished waiting room and an elegantly appointed reception room, measuring about thirty feet by thirty feet, lighted by a magnificent oriel window.” [ST]

The company's 'Fine Art Photographic Galleries' offered:

"Enlargements made to any size

and coloured in oil, water colours or crayon.

Indestructible Vitrified Enamels – a Speciality.

Photos printed in permanent platinum

a process that bears a striking resemblance to finely executed engraving."

Studios in 1892

Two years later, the British Journal of Photography printed a report on the company's main studios at 13 Maitland Street at the West End of Edinburgh - premises that were to be given the address 61 Shandwick Place in 1899.

"Mr Balmain used some of the newest processes commercially. In 1892, he was experimenting with printing-out paper, and was testing the permanence of images on collodio-chloride paper. They proved not to be very permanent.

He was an award winner in vitrified enamels, which was now an important growing department of his business. He also handled photogravure work for the trade, and created photo-lithography transfers to printers.” [BJP1892: p534]

The company also opened a studio in Hawick in the Scottish Borders.

James Good Tunny

1820-1887

EPS

Lectures

Investigation

Maine to California

Photos

Exhibitions

Collections and For Sale

Early Negatives

Tunny & Rodger