Extraordinary sixth-plate, English, occupational ambrotype attributed to amateur photographer and partner in the ventilator company Hill & Hey. Holding an illustrated company brochure, a smiling gentleman who is identified in a period ink label on the back as “My father, ELB”, stands next to the company’s large advertising sign. It reads “Hill & Hey, Halifax, Yorkshire, Excelsior Syphon Ventilators, The Excelsior, Out-Let Ventilator, The Excelsior Ventilating Dormer.”

According to the website,https://stereoscopy.blog/2022/12/13/john-hill-amateur-stereo-photographerfrom-halifax/ 
“In May of 1858, John Hill, then a book-keeper living at Halifax, Yorkshire, married a native of Halifax, twenty-three year old, Ann Esther Hey. The bride was the eldest daughter of a deceased relieving officer, John Hey, and his wife Ann….In 1861 John was working as a clerk in a ventilating firm created around 1855 by Charles Watson, a former schoolmaster who had designed and patented a syphon ventilator and went on to create and manufacture the Watson’s double current syphon ventilator, the Excelsior syphon ventilator and the Excelsion outlet ventilator. Some of Watson’s patrons were members of the royal family and his ventilators were installed in the royal residences of Windsor Castle, Frogmore and Sandringham.”
On 9 July 1869 Ann Esther Hill gave birth to a son who was named Charles Watson, after her husband’s employer. Two years later John Hill and his brother-in-law John Edwards Hey became business partners and took over Charles Watson’s company, which was then called Hill and Hey and employed fourteen men. The 1871 census described both men as ventilating engineers. For reasons which are unspecified John Hill and his brother-in-law dissolved their partnership by mutual consent in 1881. In the census that was taken less than three weeks later, John Edwards Hey was still listed by the enumerator as a ventilating engineer whereas John Hill was described as a “ventilating engineer out of business at present”.

Soon after John Edwards Hey became the sole proprietor of Hill and Hey, John Hill, then apparently retired, seems to have taken up photography. The author of the blog presents stereoviews by Hill, but we suspect that Hill was also the photographer of this ambrotype. In fact we think this gentleman is pictured in the blog, illustration 7, of the large group, back row. This certainly looks like a makeshift studio where the photograph was captured. We feel it is most likely the ventilator business building as it appears as an industrial construction with a drape in the back. The image is in very good plus condition with great tones and contrast. We purchased this as presented and while one could easily add a mat we love this presentation. This is a fascinating advertising occupational ambrotype with a unique connection to an amateur photographer!

Exceptional occupational sixth-plate ambrotype of a boy cradling his extremely large claw hammer. He is dressed in equally impressive bib coveralls that have seen quite a bit of work wear even for a lad at his young age. He wears a slightly wider brimmed hat to protect himself from the daily sun. Judging by his priceless facial impression he was certainly awestruck by the photographer. The image is in excellent minus condition with strong tones and contrast. There are a few tiny spots as seen. It is housed in half of a case. Child labor images aren’t common on the market so add this one to your collection now

Marvelous sixth-plate ruby ambrotype of either an artist or an actor. In any scenario this gentleman has a great deal of panache with his frock, tights and fancy hat. The image is in excellent minus condition with great tones and contrast. It is housed in a full case.

Dramatic ninth-plate ambrotype of a young woman posed with her back to the camera. She is wearing a very sensual dress with a sheer top and a black lace shawl draped to her waist. She is even sporting a tassel attached to her hair on the left side! We also see her delicate necklace extending down her bare back. The ambrotype has great tones and contrast with some loss on the left mat perimeter as seen. There is an area just touching the top of her head that is seen at an angle and appears to be a light cloudy residue. It is housed in a full case. This is certainly a unique image that will compliment any collection.

Gorgeous hand tinted quarter-plate ambrotype identified by a brass mat stamp to Partridge, Wheeling, VA (now WV). According to Craig’s Registry, A.C. Partridge first started as a daguerreotypist in Pittsburgh in 1851 but then opened a studio at 36 Monroe Street in Wheeling, VA in 1851-54. In 1856 he opened his new studio in Wheeling. This portrait was of course captured before West Virginia became a state in 1863 hence the Virginia mark. The young lad is posed with his hand gently resting on a high chair. His long smock has been tinted blue with the piping a lovely purple hue. His plaid dress underneath has a red tint and the same color was applied to the carpet below. His dark hat is sitting on the chair and his face and lips have also been tinted. The image is in excellent minus condition with lovely tones and nice contrast. There is one tiny spot on the left side of his face as seen. The image is housed in a nice deep ambrotype case with a lovely dark purple velvet mat inside. There are very few West Virginia images on the market so don’t miss out on this beautiful tinted example!

Extremely rare sixth-plate green ambrotype identified by a velvet mat mark to S.A. Smith, 416 N. 2^nd. St. According to Craig’s Registry, this is Summer A. Smith who is listed as a daguerreotypist, at 416 North Second Street, Philadelphia, Pa., from 1859 to 1860. He boarded at the Black Horse Tavern. The handsome lad is posed with his arm resting on a table. We love the hilly road shooting down towards him on the left! This is another first for us as we have never offered a green glass ambrotype and there can’t be many available. It is a rich bright Irish green when viewed from the back. The image is in very good minus condition with some small spots and some spider lines in the top coat of lacquer. If you collect the unique, this one is for you!

Touching English sixth-plate ambrotype of a man cradling his dog. He gazes lovingly at his fuzzy best friend who has slightly moved his head while tucking his face shyly in his owner’s coat. The man wears a cool hat and work coat and looks as if he just stopped at the studio on the way home from the job. The plate is in very good minus condition with the tones a little darker and a few small spots. It is housed in half of an extremely worn case.

Rare English quarter-plate ambrotype identified with a label behind the image for A. Szarkowski’s Polski Photographic Establishment.  According to some information found online, Alexander Szarkowski was operating in Stourbridge from at least 1856, along with his wife, Agnes Mary, who helped manage his itinerant photograph business. Alexander stayed in the Stourbridge area before being found in the 1871 census in the district of Bray in Berkshire. The stocky woman wears a beautiful voluminous black gown that encompasses the entire width of the bottom of the image. The ambrotype is toned throughout as seen with an unusual blue color on the left. A small area on her dress is a similar hue. It is housed in a lovely full English case with a filigree border design on the front. We love this as a curiosity piece and we doubt you find another ambrotype by Mr. Szarkowski Polski Photographic Establishment!

Great tourist quarter-plate opaltype of two men posed in front of Niagara Falls. They are next to the tree that is often photographed in this setting with a sign for “Cave of the Winds and Luna Falls” attached at the top. What makes this one much rarer is the beautiful quarter-plate case is housed in the original box at the time of purchased. The image is lighter in tonal qualities and contrast as seen but is in excellent minus condition otherwise. The full case is in excellent minus condition with the front being almost perfect. The back has a few light spots from sitting in the box. We rarely see these period presentation boxes so don’t miss out on this one.

One of a kind oval, transparent, shell snuff box with a heavy silver top that houses a tintype of a rough and tumble man underneath the lid. The cocky and confident man with his hand on his hip is chomping a cigar while leaning on a fur covered table. We are not sure of the type of shell that was used but it is quite stunning with a white/tan color mixture. It measures 1 ¾” wide by 3 5/8” long and 1” in height.

Killer sixth-plate tintype of four nefarious brothers who look like they’d rather shoot you than say hello! The two grizzly characters in the front closely resemble twins and wear matching double-breasted heavy overcoats. Possibly these were men of the sea or from the west? In any scenario they’re full of attitude, with arms crossed and a tilt of the head. The other two also have a sinister look but we can imagine they’re the ones handling the family fortune! We love the photographer’s background with the faux arch stone window that screams castle, a large country manor or even a church. The tintype is in excellent minus condition with great tones and contrast. It is housed in a full case.

Treasured sixth-plate tintype of two soldiers casually posed with the man on the left’s arm gently draped on his buddies shoulder. An interesting feature of this image is the case, which has a gold-colored brass or copper heart glued to the front. Was this just the love and respect of a fellow soldier or something more special? The slightly heavier plate is in very good minus condition with strong tones and contrast along with some light tinting to their cheeks. There is some wear and when held at an angle you’ll notice small spots in the top lacquer coat. It is housed in a full case.

Extraordinary, undersized whole-plate, occupational, outdoor tintype, 5” x 7”, of the Sheridan House which was owned by J. M. Horton. An eclectic group of people are posed at the house, including a baseball team! We see four men in their uniforms with the two men on the ends balancing their bats on the railing of the top balcony. The middle balcony has the women and girls of the hotel. We see three decorative potted plants just above the small sign for Mr. Horton. There is a large group of men lined on the bottom porch with some dressed in suits and others looking as if they just walked off the farm. We particularly like the older gentleman sitting to the left of the entrance and wearing a large brimmed hat with a shirt and suspenders. Our favorite part, though, is the man standing on his head in front of the fence on the far left side! We’ve never seen this before with a large outdoor tintype! There is no location identified, and while we have found a number of Sheridan Houses listed across the country we haven’t made the connection to Horton. The style of dress with the men suggests something more westward but hopefully someone will eventually identify this spectacular image as it is a wonderful research project. The image is in very good plus condition with great tones and contrast. There is some typical light wear seen at an angle with some light crazing lines also visible. There are a couple of small spots that appear to be some residue on top of the plate. There is some period tape residue on the back where it was framed and mounted in the past. You definitely won’t find another grouping like this!

Impressive whole plate tintype of Pittsburgh’s Round Corner Hotel. This is in the Lawrenceville neighborhood and is still standing today as the Round Corner Cantina.  According to Pittsburgh House Histories’ Facebook page, Lawrenceville's Round Corner Hotel was still under construction on September 17, 1862, when the building became part of one of the best-known events in neighborhood history: an explosion killed 78 workers at the Allegheny Arsenal more than 500 feet away and sent a projectile through one of the hotel windows!
The building was constructed for Jacob Waidler, a Lawrenceville constable who apparently realized that industrial growth in his neighborhood during the Civil War created demand for another dining and lodging place. The Round Corner took on its present form in 1891, when second-generation proprietor Elias Waidler added a third story. This latterly reversed image predates that third story addition. There is a sign out front that reads, Round Corner Hotel, 3721. The German sign on top reads Inn Round Corner and we see the E. H. Weiler sign above the cool saloon style door. Eli Is proudly posed out front and a great globe light just in front of the name says Pool. We see Pool advertised twice on the windows and Beer and Wine along with the Hotel. A sign on the pole reads Stabling.
The tintype is accompanied by a similar albumen print that has an inscription on the front and some later family history on the back as seen in the scans. The tintype is in excellent minus condition with strong tones and contrast. There are a few light marks and spots as seen. This appears to have been possibly mounted and framed in the past. An exceptional early Pittsburgh tintype of an historic building that is still going strong!

Marvelous, slightly undersized half-plate, outdoor, occupational tintype, 4 ¼” x 5 3/8”, showing C. Foster delivering crackers and bread in a container to a customer on a snowy day. His beautiful Dalmatian dog is excited to help! The laterally reversed sign on his covered wagon reads, C. Foster, Extra Pilot Bread, Crackers. We love how the circular format frames this wintry scene with the houses in the background. If desired, a half-plate oval mat will fit perfectly over this format but we prefer this presentation. The plate has great tones and contrast with some light wear as seen along with a nick on the right perimeter. There are a couple of extremely light bends which are insignificant.

Impressive CDV tintype of the Earlville, NY Military Band that shows an amazing 24 members with 22 brass instruments, a drum and one man in the front holding a bass drum mallet. His instrument with the identification is propped in a significant spot in the back. We love the front row with the men leaning towards each other! This was done by an itinerant possibly at the event as we see what appear to be sides of a tent on the perimeter. The plate has nice tones and contrast with a few spots of loss and rust on the edge that seems stable. At an angle there are a number of spots along with wear/smudges and some bends. This would look cool framed and sitting on your shelf or mantle.

Great occupational CDV tintype of a blacksmith and his assistant. He is ready to swing his hammer, with his large tongs at the ready and his anvil precariously sitting on a crate in the photographer’s studio. His assistant holds a large sledgehammer, ready to lend a hand. We love that there are two spots on his shirt that when closely examined show burn marks from the forge! This is a clean image with nice tones and contrast.

Cool CDV occupational tintype of a dashing young sailor wearing an anchor-embroidered shirt, a great floppy hat and a killer chain-link-style belt. An unusual hint of what appears to be a strap is barely seen at the top border and we’re curious to its purpose. The image has nice tones and contrast with a number of bends and some scratches.

Delightful CDV sleeved tintype of two young women having a blast in the studio. This fun scene is obviously staged as a wedding portrait as the woman on the right wears a white gown with a knitted veil. She gazes upward with loving yet goofy eyes towards her new spouse. Her friend is dressed in men’s clothes and wears a huge fake mustache as she looks down toward her true love. The back has a period inscription that reads, “Romeo and Juliet, Lill and Em.” The plate is in very good plus condition with lovely tones and contrast and some wear on the white dress as seen. By Hardwick, Bridgeton, N.J.

Cute small stereo-style format or uncut tintypes of an adorable young lad with long thick locks which have been styled into ringlets. He is in profile in a thought provoking pose and certainly could have been a professional model! The sharp image is in very good condition with extremely strong tones and contrast and some light hand tinting to his cheeks. It measures 2 1/8” x 3 ¼” and there is a light diagonal vertical bend on the bottom portion just below his shoulder on the left to his elbow on the right.

Creative English CDV tintype of a woman framed by a gold-gilded fan design. This is a gem-style tintype placed in the black mount with gold accents that includes butterflies and a dragonfly in the background. The image has great tones and contrast and there is some wear seen at an angle. The back advertises E. Gregson and Son, Halifax & Blackpool.

Nice CDV of a tall, lanky fiddle player ready to play you a tune. The image has nice tones and contrast with quite a bit of wear as seen.

Brilliant CDV tintype of two women dressed in their finest riding outfits and holding their long whips. We love the tall woman’s top hat. The image has nice tones and contrast with a hint of tint to their cheeks. There is some crazing in the varnish.

Interesting larger CDV tintype, 2 5/16” x 4”, of a tall gentleman with a cool long soul patch. It is accompanied by a laterally reversed heavy copper plate included that reads “Mr. and Mrs. George B. Schuyler.” The plate is enclosed in a tattered envelope that has the name printed laterally correct. The copper plate was mounted on something in the past. Unfortunately Mrs. Schuyler’s image is not included. The tintype has that extra silver shine with nice cool tones and contrast. There are a number of line marks as seen.