Cased Images Daguerreotypes and Tintypes

Just what is the difference between a daguerreotype and a tintype? Photo curator Diane Adams-Graf explains what distinguishes these two early photographic processes. Actual daguerreotypes and tintypes are pulled apart and viewed in detail. (3 min. 8 sec.)

[@DecrepitTelephone]

Another pretty common type of image to see in cases is the Ambrotype, the images on glass typically with an emulsion on the back to bring out the lower tones.
Care must be taken when disassembling daguerreotypes as to avoid A.) touching the surface, and B.) allowing the pressed brass mat to scratch the fragile surface of the image.

[@weekdayyardsale]

I cant understand why people are so mean on the internet. Thanks for the lesson. Stuff is only stuff, old stuff is just old stuff.... how can you call this person an idiot .. plenty of these on the planet, and only one of her.

[@licmir3663]

Great video!

[@photoartist3]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@benrichard4523]

Tin-dipped iron? I'm sorry, but that's just not true. It's dipped in silver nitrate, which reacts with the cadmium bromide and ammonium iodide (depending on recipe) in the collodion (nitrocellulose). There is no tin in a standard tintype, it's a misnomer, and I would expect a representative of a museum to know that.

[@tabby73]

Why is she wearing only one glove?

[@AimForTheBushes908]

@CasedImage lol, good observations.

[@CasedImage]

Honestly what sort of idiot takes a vintage daguerreotype apart like this - clearly causing mat burn on the plate surface by the sloppy handling. Even this is only a demonstration piece it survived a 150 years being a fine portrait only to fall into the hands of ineptitude and used to misinform others on how to handle a bare plate. It is not a "paper preserver" either it is the remnants of the original sealing tape, the preserver is a thin metal foil frame that wraps around the plate package.

[@jennhoff03]

I took mine apart for two reasons. 1- I wanted to clean the glass and the foil to further preserve it, and 2- I wanted to identify the person in the portrait. Behind the picture, much as I suspected, was a little paper telling me the name and age of the person in the shot. Then I scanned the daguerrotype by itself (because when it was incased in its frame, it was further away from the scanner and the scans turned out blurry), and carefully re-assembled it. I think in some cases it's ok.