P3D Tintype

[Michael Georgoff <Michael_Georgoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I believe I may have a two tintype photos that make up a stereo pair, but I
need some advice on improving contrast on them, or advice on surface
cleaning, if this is at all a possibility.

Here's the story. I traveled back home (from San Jose, CA to Dearborn, MI)
for Thanksgiving, and my father had brought out a file folder full of photos
from about 30 years ago.  These were the ones that my late mother had not
put into the family album, these were extras that were offered to the
family.  In the pile, there were three tintypes of my mother (one may have
ended up in the family album).   These were taken circa late 60's or early
70's at Greenfield Village, a sort of "museum town" in Dearborn (part of the
Henry Ford Museum, BTW), probably in an "old time photographer's studio" and
they are typical tourist-class tintype photos.

I noticed that the 3 photos seemed to be all the same pose, so I got to
thinking and figured they were probably done on a 4-lens camera, like the
Polaroid cameras used for passport photos with 4 lenses.  I swapped the
three tintypes around until I came up with what I believed, by freeviewing,
were two that made a stereo pair.  When I unmounted them upon my return to
California, I put them side by side and noticed that there was an edge on
the two tintypes that leads me to believe that there were indeed 4 images
done on a single tin plate, and they were cut apart, so that I have the top
2 of the 4.

I put them side by side in my stereocard viewer, and I did see some stereo
depth, but they'd have to be mounted and masked to make proper stereo sense.
(For some reason I got a pair when I swapped them from their apparent left
and right position on the original tin plate.)

Here's the problem.  Over the years, they've probably been in their
cardboard folders, and in a file folder, and in a file cabinet or cardboard
box, away from light.  But, they are dark, the contrast is almost gone, and
the positive is looking more negative in one than the other.  This is why
I'm almost uncertain about the stereo depth, as there is very little
image/contrast to help me see the depth.

I have no clue as to whether or not this is a dirty surface condition that
can be cleaned, and if so, with what.  I'm hoping there is something that
can be done to clean them up enough for me to get a high-resolution digital
scan done.  I can then bring them into Adobe Photoshop for a real cleanup,
adjusting levels, brightness, contrast, etc, and build a good stereo pair to
be printed out at 300 dpi.

Can anyone offer any guidance, suggestions, or advice on whether or not the
surface of these 30 year old tourist tintypes can be cleaned, with what,
whether or not I should attempt it or not?  Anyone suggest any tintype
"experts" on the Internet?  (I am not looking to spend gobs of money on
museum grade photo restoration services, by the way, not at this time.)   It
may not be a surface condition, it may be something in the tintype process
itself that has caused the images to degrade over time.  I readily admit  to
being pretty much clueless about photographic processes (modern or
otherwise) at the level of chemistry.  As you can imagine, this is a
priceless stereo find for me personally, and I'd rather put them back in
their folders for another 30 years than risk any damage to them. 

Feel free to respond on-list or off, any and all ideas, suggestions, and
comments welcome.  Thanks.


Michael Georgoff
San Jose, CA
georgoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


------------------------------