More Info. on Photograph Galleries?

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Friends,

After inspecting a tintype of a young boy that I've had in my collection for months, I decided to open the copper frame and see if there were any inscriptions.

The boy still remains unidentified, there is no writing on the back of the photograph. However, I did find the name of the gallery where the tintype was made. It reads: "Waterbury, Conn. No. 22"

My question is, does anyone have more information regarding this gallery? The tintype is no doubt from the American Civil War era, a row of painted tents and a US flag are seen on the backdrop in the photograph. But I'm interested in knowing who the photographer was or maybe just have some discussion on galleries in general. Does anyone own images of soldiers who had their pictures taken at the Waterbury Gallery? What does the "No. 32" stand for?

It is a great image and a fine purchase. I will post it soon.

Regards,

[Dignann]

Re: More Info. on Photograph Galleries?

Jason,

Just out of curiosity, where on the image did you find "Waterbury, Conn. No. 22"? If it was found on the mat, than it most likely refers to the maker of the "frame" or mat.

I have seen some cased images, whose mats bear the stamp of "Holmes Booth & Hayden Superfine, Waterbury, Conn." followed by numbers. One source states that they were the first to make planished copper-silver plates for daguerreotyping.

Perhaps it is the case/frame/mat that is from Waterbury and not the image?

Eric

[Matthew Semple]

Re: More Info. on Photograph Galleries?

It is possible that it was taken by E. S. Hayden who operated a photography firm in Waterbury, Conn. He also traveled around to other cities in the state to take photographs.

Attahced is a scan of a broadside advertisement from circa 1850. The broadside was labeled American Office Print, Waterbury, Conn. This particular broadside is not filled in with a city or address.

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: More Info. on PLATE MATS?

Perhaps it is the case/frame/mat that is from Waterbury and not the image?

Eric,

I think you're right on, I looked at another ambrotype (of a middle-aged couple) I had and sure enough the copper mat was marked "Waterbury, Conn. No. 17" I had not thought of it this way! We need to renam this thread "Waterbury Mats!" :tounge_sm Still, I wonder what the "No. 32 or 17" means?

I also had another thought, maybe the Waterbury mats could be a detail that could help us today in identifying images to the Civil War period?

Jason

[Dignann]

Re: More Info. on Photograph Galleries?

Jason,

Holmes, Booth and Hayden, and Scovill Manufacturing Company, were the two largest photographic supply houses in the country. Both were located in Waterbury, Conn. HB&H started in 1853 rolling and manufacturing brass and copper and the mat was just one of their products. The number on the mat is the stock number. At least so says Paul K. Berg in his article "Civil War Military Patriotic Mats for Photographic Cases" in Military Images, Vol. XX, No. 1, (January-February 1999).

Eric