Having great facial hair must run
in the family, or at least in this one it does! This photo depicts the MacRae
brothers, photographed in 1871. The photo is part of the tintype process of
photography [also know as also melainotype or ferrotype] and was used in the mid-1800s to early 1900s,
primarily. The image, which was underexposed, was produced onto a sheet of iron
metal and then coated with black paint, lacquer, or enamel to darken it. It
evolved out of ambrotype photography, which placed a negative image onto glass,
then used reflective light and a dark background in order to make the negative look like a positive image.
The use of tintype photography reduced the cost considerably, proved to be very
durable, and therefore became very popular. It was also an excellent way of
capturing some impressive facial hair; although this picture is darkened, the
moustaches of these brothers still steal the show!
Learn more about photography,
photographic processes, and moustaches by stopping by the museum!
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