Caring for tintype photos involves careful handling, proper storage, and a stable environment to preserve these unique historical artifacts for generations. The key is to protect them from physical damage and environmental degradation.
Understanding Tintypes: A Brief Overview
Tintypes are direct positives on a thin sheet of iron coated with a photographic emulsion, popular from the 1850s to the 1870s. Their durability made them a common, affordable choice, but their delicate surface requires specific care to prevent deterioration.
1. Gentle Handling: The First Rule of Preservation
The surface of a tintype is sensitive to oils, dirt, and scratches. Always follow these guidelines when handling:
- Wash Your Hands: Ensure your hands are clean, dry, and free of lotions or oils. Ideally, wear clean, lint-free cotton gloves to prevent transferring oils and dirt to the emulsion.
- Hold by the Edges: Never touch the image area directly. Handle the tintype by its edges or corners.
- Avoid Bending: Tintypes are made of thin iron and can bend or crease, which will permanently damage the image. Always support the entire piece.
- No Food or Drink: Keep food, beverages, and chemicals away from your tintypes during handling or display.
2. Optimal Storage Solutions for Longevity
Proper storage is critical to protect tintypes from environmental harm and physical damage.
- Acid-Free Enclosures: A tintype should be stored in an acid-free paper folder or envelope, or wrapped in acid-free tissue. These materials are specifically designed to prevent chemical reactions that can cause discoloration or deterioration over time.
- Tip: Look for materials labeled "photo-safe" or "archival quality."
- Flat Storage: It's best to keep the tintype lying flat. Storing them upright can lead to bowing or pressure damage over time.
- Protective Boxes: Place the individually enclosed tintypes into sturdy, acid-free storage boxes. These boxes offer an additional layer of protection against dust, light, and accidental damage.
- Consider: Metal edge boxes or drop-front boxes are excellent choices for organized, safe storage.
- Stable Environment: Store tintypes in a location with stable temperature and humidity.
- Temperature: Aim for a cool, consistent temperature (e.g., 65-70°F or 18-21°C).
- Humidity: Maintain moderate relative humidity (e.g., 30-50%). High humidity can lead to mold growth or emulsion degradation, while very low humidity can make the emulsion brittle.
- Avoid Extremes: Never store tintypes in attics, basements, garages, or near exterior walls, as these areas are prone to significant fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
3. Displaying Your Tintypes Safely
While it's wonderful to display these historical pieces, doing so requires careful consideration to prevent damage.
- Even Support: For display, the tintype should be supported evenly on a mount or lie flat within a frame. Avoid methods that put stress on a single point or allow the tintype to sag.
- UV-Filtering Protection: Frame tintypes with UV-filtering glass or acrylic. This will protect the image from harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause fading and discoloration.
- Avoid Direct Light: Never display tintypes in direct sunlight or under strong artificial light. Even with UV-filtering glass, prolonged exposure can cause irreparable damage.
- Proper Mounting: Use only archival-safe materials for matting and mounting within a frame. Acidic mats can leach chemicals into the tintype over time.
4. Cleaning and Maintenance
Generally, it's best to avoid attempting to clean or restore tintypes yourself, as improper methods can cause irreversible damage.
- Gentle Dusting: For light surface dust, you can gently brush it away with a very soft, lint-free brush (like a camel hair brush used for camera lenses).
- Avoid Liquids and Chemicals: Never use water, cleaning solutions, or chemical solvents on a tintype. These can dissolve the emulsion or cause staining and corrosion.
- Professional Restoration: If a tintype is significantly damaged, dirty, or showing signs of active deterioration (e.g., rust, flaking emulsion), consult a professional photographic conservator. They have the expertise and tools to safely treat and stabilize these delicate objects.
5. Digitization for Long-Term Preservation
Digitizing your tintypes offers a safe way to share and enjoy them while preserving the originals.
- High-Resolution Scans: Create high-resolution digital scans (e.g., 600 dpi or higher) of both the front and back of your tintypes.
- Multiple Backups: Store these digital files on multiple platforms, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage, and a dedicated archival disc, to protect against data loss.
- Metadata: Include descriptive metadata with your digital files, such as the date, subject, and any known history of the tintype.
Key Tintype Care Tips at a Glance
| Do's | Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Handle with clean hands or gloves. | Touch the image area. |
| Store in acid-free enclosures. | Store in acidic paper or plastic. |
| Keep tintypes lying flat. | Bend or crease the tintype. |
| Use acid-free storage boxes. | Use tape or adhesive on the tintype. |
| Maintain stable temperature/humidity. | Store in attics, basements, or garages. |
| Display with UV-filtering glass. | Display in direct sunlight or bright light. |
| Consult a conservator for damage/cleaning. | Attempt DIY repairs or wet cleaning. |
| Digitize for backup and sharing. | Expose to extreme temperatures or humidity. |
By following these preservation guidelines, you can ensure that your precious tintype photographs remain intact and continue to tell their stories for many years to come. For further details on photographic conservation, reputable sources include the Library of Congress, National Archives, and the Getty Conservation Institute.
