Tintypes

The term "Tintype" is more descriptive than it is factual as there is no tin in a tintype, they are produced on black japaned sheets of iron, which resembe sheets of tin.  This cheap and extremely durable photographic process was introduced just before the U.S. Civil War and was still in use at carnivals and seaside resorts well into the last century.  Here are a few examples:

Photo by N. Kelsey of Durham, ON

From the collection of John Rochon

Photo by J.D. Wallis of Kingston, ON

From the collection of John Rochon

Photo by H.W. Weber of Cornwall, ON

From the collection of John Rochon

It is uncommon to find tintypes or, to use the proper term "Ferrotypes" with the name and location of the photographer attached.  Most came without the benefit of a card or paper slip cover.  Some people find it difficult to distinguish between a daguerreotype and a ferrotype, as both are on metal plates and in some instances, both are found in cases.  The major difference is that if you look at the photo and see the mirror image of yourself looking back, then you know that it it a daguerreotype.  These tarnish, or turn black, upon prolonged exposure to air and you'll often find a dark ring of tarnish around the inside of the matt; ferrotypes do not tarnish but they do rust.  Cased ferrotypes can develop a ring around the matt as well, but it is different from the tarnish of the daguerreotype.  Here is an example of each...





From the collection of John Rochon

On the daguerreotype on the left, you can clearly see the black ring of tarnish around the inside of the matt framing the photo.  In the ferrotype on the right you can see the hazy white-ish discolouration around the inside of the matt.  I find that the majority of cased ferrotypes suffer from this problem, so I avoid adding them to my collection - the example above just happened to be part of a lot I purchased.

To learn more about the ferrotype follow this link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintype