Four-Lens Tintype Camera
date: label: date made
content: ca 1860s
notes: label: Description
content: This four-lens, wooden bellows tintype camera was used for studio portrait photography in the 1860s during the Civil War era. Tintypes were popular inexpensive photographs made on coated iron metal plates and usually placed in individual cases for customers. Studio and traveling photographers were making tintypes in America from the mid-1850s to the early decades of the twentieth century. This camera could make up to four identical images in one portrait sitting.
label: Description
content: From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
label: See more items in
content: Photography
label: See more items in
content: Artifact Walls exhibit
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of A.C. Stebbins
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PG.004268D
label: accession number
content: 164051
label: catalog number
content: 4268D
objectType: label: Object Name
content: camera, tintype
label: Other Terms
content: camera, tintype; Plate/Sheet; Stand; Bellows; Multiple-Lens
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 26 cm x 29 cm x 45 in; 10 1/4 in x 11 7/16 in x 114.3 cm