An old photo my dad had...

Hi everyone! Utter newbie here! So in going through my late father's things, I ran across this old photo. I think it's a tintype, with the cheeks of these fine gentlemen hand tinted a lovely pink. Can anyone date this photo for me or otherwise shed light on it? I like to think the second gentleman from the left is Abe Lincoln, but more likely he's the Vice President of the First Amish Mercantile Bank of Centreville Ohio or some such thing. Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts and speculation!

 

What a happy bunch !!!

 

Welcome!

 

Sorry to disappoint you, that isn't honest Abe. I do think that man, 2nd from our left and the man on the far right are brothers or at least cousins. They have very similar eyes, set of their mouths and the right ear of the 2nd man is very similar to the left ear of the other man. Those ears are more pointed at the top rather than rounded.

As to dating this tintype will start with the history of tintypes. They first appeared on the scene in the 1855, reached their peak from 1861 to 1871, started to wane in popularity in 1871 but still done til the turn of the century. Common sizes of them were
1/4 plate = 3 1/4" x 4 1/4"
1/6 plate =2 5/8" x 3 1/4"
1/9 plate = 2" x 2 1/2"

Trying to date it from the clothing, I'm not very good at that. Judging by the style of their ties and width of their lapels, I would think no earlier than 1865 and possibly as late as 1880. Fig is very good on dating styles, clothing, etc. No doubt she will drop by soon.

--- Susan

 

I think they are all related. Cheek bones, noses, in particular, thin lips (although the guy on the left end is a little fleshier. The ear thing includes the funny sort of fold on the second from the right.

The beards on the three on the right seem a little bushy and the guy on the left has a clean shaven chin, so they may have thinner lower faces than they would otherwise appear to have.

 

I agree with Bakers. I think they are brothers. Same forehead, brows, nose, then lips. The one on left could always be a step brother, while the other 3 could be full brothers. The one on the far left looks older and his clothes are not as crisp as the others.

Clothing looks like Sunday best, so maybe a funeral and the first time they have been together in a long time. Who knows maybe the last time they were together for that matter.

 

Thanks for all the great responses. These gentlemen are probably relatives of my late stepmother, perhaps McGlashans or Pearsons or whatevers. Have to cross-check versus the family tree. Not blood relatives of mine, so they must be respectable folk

 

Well if you find out they were related, come back and tell us.

 

Looks like a family of Undertakers!!!!!
Oh, sorry, nearly forgot!!! Hi and WELCOME, Robbie!!! Let the fun begin!!!

 

Notice they are all holding their hands kind of awkwardly - intertwined fingers. That's pretty strange.