Mandel's Positive Process

Gordon Smith (gsmith@dancris.com)
Thu, 5 Dec 1996 19:40:38 -0700

I recently found an old print in a antique (junk) shop. It measures approx
2.5 inches x 3.5 inches. It appears to be a ferrotype on paper. The reverse
is a "post card" type back. In the upper right where the stamp would go, it
says: "Mandel's Positive Process-No Negatives" there is also a line drawing
of what I assume to be the process camera. It looks like an old lantern
slide projector. At the bottom it says: "Copyright 1911 By The Chicago
Ferrotype Company". All of this text appears to have been applied with a
rubber stamp after )I assume) the print was made. The paper is
approximately the weight of modern double weight silver paper. The image is
that of an average family sitting on a porch (a snapshot) so it's not like
it was a commercial postcard of the Grand Canyon or something.

Two photo historians at the local university looked at it, one specializes
in non-silver processes and the other in 19th century photography, neither
of them had seen one before or had heard of the process. Both did agree
that it appears to be a 'paper' tin-type.

Anybody out there care to shed any light on this process or know what
became of the Chicago Ferrotype Company?

Thanks.

Gordon Smith
http://www.dancris.com/~gsmith
Send E-mailto:gsmith@dancris.com