Question

Photograph taken when?

The tintype photograph above has been provided by John Hollingsworth of Alabama, USA.

John wrote:

"I believe that this photograph was probably taken in Alabama.  Is there any way to tell when it was taken?

 The date is likely to be 1890s, or perhaps 1860s.

If 1890s,  the figures are William David Hollingsworth (with moustache) and his younger brother Josiah

If  1860s, the figures are the William and Josiah's father and an unknown person."

If you can help to date this photo, please email me.   

Thank you. -  Peter Stubbs

Reply

Thank you to J M Haynes, Longview, Texas, USA for sending the following reply:

The Guns

"The sixgun on the left looks like an 1858 Remington and the one on the right looks like an 1860 Colt. The 1858 Remington is often referred to as the Beal's Army Revolver in the books.

However, that's not a very helpful clue to the age of this tintype."

Cattle Herding

"The era of herding cattle north from Texas lasted only from 1867 to 1887, and this was no glamorous job. Cowboys received rock bottom wages for gruelling and dangerous work. This was a job that lured few Easterners eager for adventure.

By the time the cowboy life had become romanticized in dime novels and periodicals, the cattle herding days were already over."

Wild West Shows

"If these really are Alabamians, I would suggest something the Hollingsworth descendant is probably not going to like.  A "cowboy craze" swept the American East even as the Old West was disappearing."

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show began performing in the Eastern US and later Europe beginning in 1884, and ran until 1906. It was during this time that city slickers could, at the Buffalo Bill show and at many photo studios throughout the East, dress up in cowboy attire and have their images captured for posterity."

Clothes

"The shirts on these men are nothing real cowboys would wear. Fringe on the sleeves indicate these are theatrical costumes. The clothes on the tall, slim fellow don't fit, and would be completely unsuitable as work clothes. Evidently the photographer didn't have his size."

Studio Props

"The props for such photography sessions would of course include six shooters, but they would be obsolete pieces of little value. Both revolvers in this image would fit the bill.  The Remington especially was unpopular because it was so heavy.

Both these revolvers used percussion caps and black powder, and consequently were prone to misfires, and chain firing of all rounds at once.

Also note the cast iron hitching post. Architectural cast iron appeared in New York City in the late 1840's, but was not used at Chicago in the Mid-West until after the 1871 fire.

For Alabama, cast iron would not date before the 1870's. In the American South, beginning in about 1850 and for decades afterward, hitching posts and railroad ties tended to be made from Bois D'Arc wood.  Termites won't touch it, and the wood is highly resistant to rot and decay."

Conclusion

"So my bet is on this being a vintage 1890-1900 costume photograph."

J M Haynes, Longview, Texas, USA:  September 2 + 3, 2006

Response from the owner of the Tintype

Thank you to John Hollingsworth who replied:

Around 1900

"The writer was absolutely correct!

Since I sent you the old tin-type, I have learned more about it.  Actually, I received a second copy of this photo from a relative with these details on the little envelope:

Apparently the photo was taken March 25th 1890.

The tall guy is William David Hollingsworth born March 25, 1869 in St. Clair Co., Alabama.  So, the photo was taken on his 21st birthday.  I am not sure of the identity of the shorter guy - possibly his brother, James Henry."

John Hollingsworth of Alabama, USA:  September 5 + 6, 2006

Tintype Photos