Figure 1.--We know a good deal about American tin-types. This tin-type is undated, but based on thr s Fauntleroy blouse would have been taken im the 1890s. TYhis was the lasr decade we see large numbers of tin-types, but they continued to be taken in declining numbers at carnivals and fairs into the 1930s.

We still see large numbers of tin-types in thwe 1890s. They are muxh lower quality than almumen studio portraits. We mostly know about Ameriocan tin-types. American Carnivals and fairs contunued to grow in popularity and tin types were perfect for low-cost, basic photigraphic booth at these events. As a result, tin-types were mostly taken at these events. Established studios set up much more refined opeations. You can tell how basic the tin-type operation was just by looking at the backdrops. Given the carnivals and fairs--the 1890s was the peak of for the the tin-type. And the expasnding industrial economy meant that more and more people had the money to buy such little niceties. Many boys in the 1890s wore very destinctive clothing as aesult of the Fauntleroy Craze. Thus it is relarively easy to date tin-types taken during the decade. This is the only of dating tin-types. Unlike CDVs ab Cabinets casrds, virtuuall none cone with dates. The younger boy here wearing a large ruffeled collar that was almost certainly photographed in the 1890s (figure 1). Gem galleries declined in the 90s as the the invention of roll film and family cameras made it possible to take more interesting and larger images at a limited cost. Of course it was the Kodak Browie that crossed the threashold of cost and simplicity, allowing almost everyone to take photographs (1900)

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Created: 1:51 AM 7/5/20234
Last updated: 1:52 AM 7/5/2023