Three Railroad Workers Holding Lanterns and Lunch Pails, circa 1883

Summary

Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.

Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.

Artifact

Tintype (Photograph)

Date Made

circa 1883

Subject Date

circa 1883

Creator Notes

The photographer is unidentified.

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2001.142.64

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Iron (Metal)
Collodion
Brass (Alloy)
Glass (Material)
Papier mache
Wood (Plant Material)

Technique

Tintype (Process)
Japanning
Sixth plate

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3.625 in

Width: 3.125 in

Thickness: 0.438 in

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