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? Should I start doing Coin Tintypes ? One Scenerio..

ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,949 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I'm really pondering this. I think there would be a market, especially with some coin show or net advertising. Fairly simple for the buyer, just email me your coin image, and hit ths PayPal button. I take the photo, upload it onto my computer, mirror flip the image on the monitor and......haven taken a sheet of metal with asphalt baked on it, coat it with a solution of collodion ether alcohol potassium bromide and potassium iodide. The plate then is put in a solution of silver nitrate for four minutes. Then, into a plateholder, to the camera and it's 160 year old lens, and a ten second exposure of your coins image in my monitor. Back to the darkroom the plate is unloaded and a solution of ferrous sulfate alcohol sugar and potassium nitrate is poured on. In about 30 seconds the image is formed and the plate rinsed with water. The plate then is put into a bath of potassium cyanide solution which dissolves unexposed solved compounds. After another rinse, the plate is dried over an alcohol lamp and a varnish of alcohol gum sandarac and chloroform is applied. Ths varnished plate is then dried over low heat. Whew. .. .Then, I send you your Tintype.

Comments

  • SaorAlbaSaorAlba Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Be careful - I was reading about early photography the other day - all those chemicals did a lot of early photogs in.
    Tir nam beann, nan gleann, s'nan gaisgeach ~ Saorstat Albanaich a nis!
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Would it show the tarnish colors?? image Cheers, RickO
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You have way too much time to think about things ....

    No way would there be a "market" for tintypes of coins.

    Go back to business school .......
  • MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,590 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I like the idea. My only question is: "What would be the cost to the customer?"
    Fall National Battlefield Coin Show is September 11-12, 2025 at the Eisenhower Hotel Ballroom, Gettysburg, PA. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
  • keyman64keyman64 Posts: 15,540 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sounds kinda cool maybe if you have a mint set or proof set from the 1800s that you want imaged with the technology of the day I guess. I can't imagine there being a whole lot of demand for this service. The price point might be a factor as well. How long would this take you for one coin? How much in material/chemical costs would this be for you? How much is your time worth and how much would you end up charging?

    Can you show a pic of a coin tintype you have done?
    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
    Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners. :smile:
  • AMRCAMRC Posts: 4,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sounds like apiece of cake. Not sure why they ever came away form this..... image
    MLAeBayNumismatics: "The greatest hobby in the world!"
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    As a hobby, this would be very cool.

    As a business, no.
  • BustHalfBrianBustHalfBrian Posts: 4,192 ✭✭✭✭
    Maybe a handful of interested people but certainly not enough to be considered a "market", IMHO.
    Lurking and learning since 2010. Full-time professional numismatist based in SoCal.
  • RollSearcherRollSearcher Posts: 227 ✭
    I agree with the others here. It's definitely interesting, but not sure there would be much of a market, especially as it sounds like it is time intensive. Getting properly compensated for your time would probably make the cost too prohibitive to those curious enough to consider it. Very cool idea, though. Would love to see what one of these looks like.

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