P3D Re: Stereo Tintypes

["Paul A. Lehman" <palehman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> John Bradley wrote:
> Those of you who are readers of Stereo World
> (and if you aren't you should be), will be aware
> of the ongoing debate about the existence of
> stereo tintypes (ferrotypes).
> Some members have doubted that true antique
> stereo tintypes exist , others have submitted
> what they claim to be genuine examples.
>
Sorry, I don't get Stereo World, so if this is a
repeat...

This is an interesting topic. It was also debated on
the Photo-Hist list last summer. The key problem here
is partly in the definition of a stereo photograph: is
a stereo photograph one only taken with a stereo
camera? That is, was the tintype produced in a "true"
stereo camera (a camera specifically made for stereo
pictures and only has two lenses) or a multi-image
camera (one with from 4 to 12 lenses, to produce from 4
to 12 images on a single plate from a single exposure).
The 4 lens cameras were very popular in the mid to late
1800 studios for CDV images and 1/4 plate photographs.
By the arrangement of the lenses, two pairs of images
were produced. The top pair and the bottom pair can
produce very nice stereo pairs. Whether the images came
from a "true" stereo camera or a multi-image camera the
tin would still need to be cut to arrange the images
properly for stereo viewing (in a standard Holme's
style viewer). So, this is the rub, did the pair of
images, viewable in stereo, come from a true stereo
camera (I suspect fairly rare), or were an
unintentional outcome of a multi-lens camera (quite
common).

I have three "stereo" tintypes in my collection.
However, I cannot determine by what method they were
acquired. I do have a friend who has several un-cut
4-image tintypes, that if were cut, would produce two
nice stereo pairs. To me, this makes tintype stereo
photographs more of a novelty then of a rarity. BTW, I
only paid $10 each for mine. Next time, when looking
through piles of tintypes from estates or auctions or
flea markets, look for two or three that have the same
image. Check them out for stereo effect in their
various combination. Probability is that two will pair
up nicely as they all came from the same exposure from
a multi-lens camera.

Paul A. Lehman


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