Tintype
This framed tintype is of a Farrand family member ca. 1860 from the William J. Farrand fonds. Tintypes were also referred to as ferrotypes or melainotypes, and were eventually named by the public based on the finish of the material, which was cheap and “tinny.” These images were processed on thin sheets of metal, often iron, instead of tin. The process was introduced in 1853 and peaked in popularity in the 1860’s and 1870’s. These images were created through the wet collodion process or a gelatin emulsion. The resultant images were not as sharply detailed as the earlier daguerreotypes. However, they had a much shorter exposure time of ten to fifteen minutes, making them almost instant in comparison. They were popular souvenirs at fairs and carnivals, marking an opportunity for photographers to engage in street photography, and easy to travel with once mounted or placed on paper mats. As they were lightweight and durable, they could also be mailed to friends and family in other countries
City of Vaughan Archives: M993.19
Tintype
This framed tintype is of a Farrand family member ca. 1860 from the William J. Farrand fonds. Tintypes were also referred to as ferrotypes or melainotypes, and were eventually named by the public based on the finish of the material, which was cheap and “tinny.” These images were processed on thin sheets of metal, often iron, instead of tin. The process was introduced in 1853 and peaked in popularity in the 1860’s and 1870’s. These images were created through the wet collodion process or a gelatin emulsion. The resultant images were not as sharply detailed as the earlier daguerreotypes. However, they had a much shorter exposure time of ten to fifteen minutes, making them almost instant in comparison. They were popular souvenirs at fairs and carnivals, marking an opportunity for photographers to engage in street photography, and easy to travel with once mounted or placed on paper mats. As they were lightweight and durable, they could also be mailed to friends and family in other countries
City of Vaughan Archives: M993.19