Three Railroad Workers Holding Lanterns and Lunch Pails, circa 1883

THF286590 / Three Railroad Workers Holding Lanterns and Lunch Pails, circa 1883
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Artifact Overview

Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Tintype (Photograph)

Date Made

circa 1883

Subject Date

circa 1883

Creator Notes

The photographer is unidentified.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2001.142.64

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Iron (Metal)
Collodion
Brass (Alloy)
Glass (Material)
Papier mâché
Wood (Plant Material)

Technique

Tintype (Process)
Japanning
Sixth plate

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3.625 in
Width: 3.125 in
Thickness: 0.438 in

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    Tintype photographs could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Introduced in 1856, tintypes democratized photography--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived. Many people posed wearing their best outfits. Others sat for the photographer in their work clothes, holding objects that reflected their occupations. Work gave meaning to people's lives--it was part of one’s personal identity.