Help with photo date!

[TJE]

I've no idea if this my great, or great great, or great great great grampa!
Black and white..on tin/steel?...with what looks like painted gold for the watch,chain and ring.
About 3-4 inches wide....4-5 inches high with frame (which says 'Made in England') on back of frame.
Any help would be great. Sorry, not very clear pics.

 

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[austin]

Very early photography. I'm guessing 1850-1875...

 

[TJE]

Very early photography. I'm guessing 1850-1875...

Thanks austin.

 

[Alan Applegate]

You might want to look at this site.

 

[bofusmosby]

typical tintype. These actually came out in the later 1850's, but their popularity drastically increased throughout the Civil War. They continued to be made up through the early 1900's. The best way to date an actual tintype would be to look at the clothing style in the photo. My guess would be 1880's to 1890's.

 

[surf]

Hey TJE,

What size is the plate? Judging by the style of his suit and cravat, I'd say 1880's. The paint is a nice touch. A prosperous young man. I'm assuming the frame is modern.

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[geologyjohn]

I'd also suggest that the photo was taken in the 1880's-90's, based on hair style (parted in the middle) and clothing.

 

[bofusmosby]

The matt (the fancy part surrounding the photo) and preserver (the fancy rim surrounding the edge of the matt) would probably date to the 1860's. It is NOT modern. A photo with someone dressed in an interesting garb such as this would be more collectible. What is the photo on? Paper, tin, or glass?

 

[TJE]

The matt (the fancy part surrounding the photo) and preserver (the fancy rim surrounding the edge of the matt) would probably date to the 1860's. It is NOT modern. A photo with someone dressed in an interesting garb such as this would be more collectible. What is the photo on? Paper, tin, or glass?

Thanks, It is tin/metal with all corners cut/beveled...back of it (tin) is solid black.

 

[bofusmosby]

Since the matt and preserver are of the 1860's time period, then the photo (if original with the case) probably dates from the same time period. The tin-types were widely used throughout the 1860's through the turn of the century. I believe that yours would date from the 1860's, but possibly through the 1870's. I(f I were a betting man, I'd say 1860's. Since this is a bit of an unusual photo (the mans clothing) this would be a desirable photo to have, not to be compared to the typical tin-type of it's day.

 

[TJE]

Since the matt and preserver are of the 1860's time period, then the photo (if original with the case) probably dates from the same time period. The tin-types were widely used throughout the 1860's through the turn of the century. I believe that yours would date from the 1860's, but possibly through the 1870's. I(f I were a betting man, I'd say 1860's. Since this is a bit of an unusual photo (the mans clothing) this would be a desirable photo to have, not to be compared to the typical tin-type of it's day.

Thanks for the info. This photo w/frame was in my grandfathers dresser, he was born 1884-died 1983 (but he had said their mother just guessed at kids ages for government census). So possibly the pic was his father (from the boats of England).
Thanks again.

 

[coinman123]

I'm thinking mid-1800's, very cool historic photograph.

 

[texasred777]

I have a small tin-type of my mom's dad, born in 1883, died in 1943. In the picture, he looks to be about 35 to 40 years old. That would make the picture somewhere around 1920 or so. It's probably about 2 and half inches by about 3 and half inches. It's just tin colored, not painted.