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What’s Inside an Old Tintype Photo Case? (Video)
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What’s Inside an Old Tintype Photo Case? (Video)

Keith Dotson
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We disassemble the case from an old 1850s tintype photograph to clean the glass and see what’s inside

In this video, fine art photographer Keith Dotson takes apart the case of an old tintype portrait to clean the glass and see what’s inside

I thought I was buying a Daguerreotype

I bought this tintype (also known as ferrotype) photograph from an online dealer probably 15 years ago. I paid too much for it because it was advertised as a Daguerreotype, and I didn’t know any better.

When it arrived in the mail, I was disheartened to find that I couldn’t really see the fellow very well because of 160 years worth of crud on the glass. Finally, after all these years, I decided it’s time to let the world see this man’s face again. My impetus was the urge to make a video discussing this portrait, to fit into my recent series of other videos focused on antique photographs.

Taking the decorative tintype case apart was easy

I didn’t really know what I was getting into with taking the case apart — I’ve never done it before. I didn’t want to damage the case, but since it’s in such poor condition already, I made the decision to risk the case in order to get a better look at the portrait inside. As it happens, the case is very easy to disassemble and reassemble. These were designed to be easily put together in the studio for customers.

View the video or check the photographs below for the step-by-step process.

First step: I carefully pulled out the corners of the paper seal and popped out the photograph, glass, and foil mat.
First step: I carefully pulled out the corners of the paper seal and popped out the photograph, glass, and foil mat.
Close-up look at the interior of the tintype case. It's a wooden box with a paper liner and the thick paper (or possibly fabric) seal around the inner edges. Note the "1.00" handwritten in pencil on the paper . . . the hand of a stranger from 160 years ago, not seen by anyone since.
Close-up look at the interior of the tintype case. It’s a wooden box with a paper liner and the thick paper (or possibly fabric) seal around the inner edges. Note the “1.00” handwritten in pencil on the paper . . . the hand of a stranger from 160 years ago, not seen by anyone since.
Second step: Carefully pull the photograph and glass out of the metal slip case. Here you see all the pieces arranged on a surface. All the dust and debris on the surface resulted from this process -- it's a dusty business.
Second step: Carefully pull the photograph and glass out of the metal slip case. Here you see all the pieces arranged on a surface. All the dust and debris on the surface resulted from this process — it’s a dusty business.
Tintype portrait of a man made in the late 1850s or early 1860s. I gently cleaned the easily removable dust from the surface with a squeeze blower and a soft cloth. I had hoped the print would be in better condition since it had been in the frame all these years.
Tintype portrait of a man made in the late 1850s or early 1860s. I gently cleaned the easily removable dust from the surface with a squeeze blower and a soft cloth. I had hoped the print would be in better condition since it had been in the frame all these years.
Tintype portrait of a young man, probably circa late 1850s or early 1860s (based on his hairstyle and clothing). The print displays signs of corrosion. Keep in mind that tintypes were unique originals, meaning there was no negative. This is the only version of this photograph in existence.
Tintype portrait of a young man, probably circa late 1850s or early 1860s (based on his hairstyle and clothing). The print displays signs of corrosion. Keep in mind that tintypes were unique originals, meaning there was no negative. This is the only version of this photograph in existence.
His face is tan but his forehead is white, probably from wearing a hat outdoors. He also appears to have blue eyes. The subjects in these old portraits of the era always appear so intense.
A century-and-a-half of dirt and grime on the glass of the old tintype frame
A century-and-a-half of dirt and grime
Glass is cleaned but still displays a few scratches. All is ready for reassembly.
Glass is cleaned but still displays a few scratches. All is ready for reassembly.

Learn more about tintypes with these books on Amazon

Thanks for reading

Be sure to visit me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, or on my website at keithdotson.com.

~ Keith

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