Tin-Type Victorian Hat photograph

Here is a wonderful tin-type photograph purchased at the Antique Market here in Toronto. I scanned the original and it appears at the bottom. The top picture is after I applied a few Photoshop techniques. Tin type photographs were very popular during the civil war in the USA in the early 1860s but the process was used for decades after that even into the next century. So the photograph was taken in the early period of photography - also judging by the style of the "Sunday best" costume. It was found in very good condition! A good job was done and we are lucky it survived.

The hats are very spectacular - Ribbons and Bows.

By the way there is no tin in tin type.

A description of the tin-type process can be found at

http://imsc.usc.edu/haptics/LostandFound/terms_tintype.html

Patent number 14,300, "For the Use of Japanned Metallic Plates in Photography," was issued on 19 February 1856 to Professor Hamilton L. Smith of Kenyon College, Ohio. The patent illustrated "the obtaining of positive impressions upon a japanned surface previously prepared upon an iron or other metallic or mineral sheet or plate by means of collodion and a solution of a salt of silver."



Now that's telling you. Thank goodness we have it easy taking photographs. We can take several to get the "best"one. Here there are few opportunities - probably only one take?