Another Hand Painted Tintype

This is the second one of these I've found. (See my post 10/9/09.) Colored tintypes with eye color, or a rosey hue to the cheeks are quite common. Less common are tintypes that have had their entire surfaces painted in an attempt to make an image that looks more like a painting than a photograph. Usually those tintypes were painted over in a style that normally would be closer to the limner paintings of the colonial and early national eras than photographs. Like limner paintings, they were often made by itinerant artists who were just as comfortable decorating, furniture, clock faces, or making store signs. This image, and the one posted earlier, were done by a commercial service, and may have used more skilled painters than the travelling artists responsible for most painted tintypes. Of course this image, like the earlier one, has lost almost all of the surface paint, so we'll never know. My guess is, that what is left, is little more than a first inking that established specific areas to be painted. The admonition to not remove the glass from the picture may indicate that paint was also added to a covering glass, or it may indicate that the tintype was glued in some way to a sheet of glass.

Correcting New York at War

I've had to redo this post. To start with, the two images had become separated, while in storage, and they really needed to go up together. Too, I speculated, that because there was a horse drawn wagon, but no cars, this patriotic image, that clearly refers to a foreign war, coupled with the long dresses on the women, made the Spanish American War as the most likely time period. But, after I found the second photograph, and was able to see the 48 star flags...New Mexico and Arizona became the 47th and 48th states in 1912, well after The Spanish American War. This has to be World War 1. The U.S. declared war on April 2, 1917, and the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Of course, American troops weren't in France on April 3, and our troops weren't on transport ships on November 12. With all the flags and bunting, it could be a July 4th celebration in either 1917, 1918. Stamped on the back, "PHOTOGRAPH BY THE WILLOW GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHERS 1463 Third Ave., New York City."

Arcadia, Pennsylvania Coronet Band

In my post of 5/6/10, The Munson Coronet Band, I noted that long before radio and television, it was common for many small towns to have local bands that played summer evenings in the town square. This is a real photo postcard, made when most professional photo processors had postcard stock on hand so that people could bring in their own negatives to have a custom postcard made. Hand written on the back, "Hoping this finds you all well as I am glad to let you know that we are all well. You will find me on this card if you look close. Hoping to hear from you soon. From your brother, John Currie Arcadia Pa." Addressed to, "Mr. Donald Currie, 320 Beech Street, East Pittsburg, Pa." Post marked, "ARCADIA, PA SEP. 18, 1908." Arcadia is a small town in Indiana County, north of Indiana, the county seat and birthplace of actor, Jimmy Stewart. East Pittsburg was absorbed into the greater city, years ago. And yes, Pittsburg was once spelled without the "H"

A Tintype of Two Women

I've been meaning to put up another tintype gallery with five to ten images, but I found this one not too long ago, and even though it's not in great condition, I was really taken by the angry look of the standing woman, so it gets it's own, separate post. With the hair, the scowl, she looks almost feral. Too, the dress is so striking compared to dress of the sitting woman who has a much more serene demeanor. Mother and daughter or two friends? Anyway, as I've noted in earlier posts, tintype is actually a misnomer. Tintypes are actually ferrotypes, shot on a sheet of iron with either a black paint or lacquer coating which makes the negative image seem like a positive.

Old Man

Another image from my days at the photo lab. This print was hand printed, by me, from an old, 19th century glass negative. As I've noted in some previous posts, while it was possible to buy commercially manufactured glass plates, many photographers made their own. Click on the image to open it in a bigger window, and water stains from either the making or processing of the negative can be seen as a streak across the subjects face. Too, the photographers finger print can be seen in the lower right corner. The one question; was the photographer an amateur, or some small town professional with a home made camera.

Another Studio Portrait

Well, I'm on a roll here. Just like my last post, a studio portrait of a woman, most likely from the mid to late twenties to the early thirties. No name or studio mark.

A Studio Portrait

My guess, from the hair style and what little I can see of the clothes, that this studio portrait was shot somewhere from the early to mid twenties to the early thirties. A black and white photo, properly processed can last well over 100 years. I have glass negatives and tintypes in my collection that are as good as the day they were made. As photography moves further into the digital age, I have to wonder if we are beginning an age were our photographic heritage will survive. Computers crash, discs degrade and color prints fade quickly.