Monday, November 29, 2010

Photo Number 385

This is another tintype from Joan.  Tintypes were popular from 1856 to 1900. They reached their height of popularity around 1890. Tintypes are not actually tin but a sheet of thin iron.  Tintypes were the very first almost instant photograph, they were a fast and affordable way to mark a special occasion. They could be mailed and they could be carried in your pocket without fear of glass breakage like with daguerreotypes or ambrotypes. 

M1Mens fashions didn’t change like womens fashions..this bowler or derby hat was popular from 1849 and continued well into the 1900’s. I looked online at other tintypes..and found several with the same hat and a similar suit that were dated 1890.

 M1

Are his hands bandaged?  Is the bandage going between his fingers of his left hand and up his arm..is his right hand bandaged also or is it just blurry from moving it?   He doesn’t look big enough to be a fighter..as in using his fists.  Did he sustain an injury or was he ill? 

Thanks Joan for sharing your very interesting photos with me!

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

16 comments:

  1. Great photo but that's a mystery about his hands!

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  2. Hallo, I found your blog via blogger. It is very interesting, I also collect these old photographfs.

    Sigrun

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  3. That is a very good point you make about men's fashions not changing in that period. I wonder if the same is true today : I suspect that I could distinguish between mens' fashions of 1950 and 2000.

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  4. Again a very interesting post! I agree with a injured hand theory. Maybe he had an accident while going to the place where his photo will be taken and it was very important for him :)

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  5. What about TB or some other lung problem? War injury? Is there one or more cloths? Note the wad up against his abdomen. I am totally baffled.

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  6. Make me remember all that black and white pictures that is common in the 1960s till late 70s in Nigeria. That has since been taken over by colored pictures.
    Thanks for giving me something to remember the past for.

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  7. I'm figuring a rotten cabbage. He was very fond of this cabbage and said he wanted a portrait. The photographer said the lights would be bad for the cabbage and forced him to cover it in his kerchief. He's clearly annoyed with the photographer. Who knows what things the cabbage is saying to him. I have a feeling words were said, feelings were hurt.

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  8. I think his right hand (on the left) moved during the sitting. In close up it looks like a shadow of his hand, and it's the same shape as his hand, just in a slightly different orientation. I think he is holding a handkerchief for some reason. I did find one other tintype of a man holding a handkerchief in one hand and a cigar in the other. But, beyond that, I find it strange. It was very common for women to hold a hankie, not men.

    Norkio

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  9. Maybe it's a napkin with something wrapped in it. Looks kind of big for a hankie, even if it is a man.

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  10. Great picture, it looks like he moved it slightly.

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  11. I think he wiggled his fingers and thought the camera wouldn't notice. Maybe he needed to blow his nose but couldn't move.

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  12. Very interesting blog subject! I love old photographs. Keep up the good work!

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  13. The only thing that comes to my (tired) mind is that "big boned" tenor dude ... Luciano Pavarotti with the hankie with which he was always wiping his forehead.

    He does look like he has arthritis. This photo was taken in twilight of the Bare-knuckle boxing era.

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  14. I just wanted to say I think that this is an amazing thing you are doing with these photos.

    On another note, I see you are a fellow Minnesotan :)

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  15. I think that his right hand isn't ill, it is just blurry from moving it. But what with left? Maybe his got something wrong with his thumb...

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  16. I have just recently found your blog, what an amazing work you do. I love it!
    As for this picture, I have no theories as to the cloth he is holding. But I was surprised to see that he bears a striking resemblance to the actor Aidan Quinn. Just thought it was funny :)

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Hi, Thanks for the comments, your input on these old photos is appreciated! English only please! All comments will be moderated! Connie