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Welton & Townsend

Daguerreian Stock and Materials, , , ,

1843                42 Beaver Street, New York, New York.

Welton & Townsend (Joseph C. Welton & Benjamin C. Townsend) were recorded in one advertisement in The New York Herald (New York, New York) and two New York City Directories 1842/1843 and 1843/1844.  The advertisement ran from April 20 to 26, 1843. Daguerreotype Plates.  “Scovills” first quality plates, pronounced by the first operators in this country, to be superior to any imported plates, for sale by their agents, Welton & Townsend, 42 Beaver street.                                                                                                                       

1842/1843 New York City Directory recorded the partnership in the directory as Buttons 42 Beaver in partnership as Welton & Townsend.

1843/1844 New York City Directory recorded the partnership as Welton & Townsend 5 William.

Welton & Townsend are not recorded in other photographic directories.

Wells, Miller & Co.

Ambrotypes, Lettertypes, Photographs, Sphereotype, , , , , , ,

1857-1858       148 & 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont.                  

Wells, Miller & Company (Charles Miller) were recorded in two announcements and four advertisements in the Burlington Free Press (Burlington, Vermont).  The first announcement appeared on October 9, 1857.  Chittenden County Fair…Works of Art…Wells, Miller and Co., Burlington—exhibited photographs, plain and touched in oils; Sphereotypes, and ambrotypes—all of high order.  These gentlemen are the successor of Mr. Parker, in the establishment on Church St.  Their pictures indicated both skill of the artist, and the improvement which is constantly going on in photographic art.

The first advertisement ran from October 16 to November 13, 1857.  Patent Sphereotypes, Patent Ambrotypes, Photographs. The only picture that will stand, Exclusive Rights, By Wells, Miller & Co.  Successor to T. M. Parker, 148 & 149 Church St., Burlington.

The second announcement appeared on January 8, 1858.  Holiday Presents.  If you wish to give a friend or relative a really appropriate Christmas or New Year’s Present, which cannot fail to be acceptable, go to Wells, Miller & Co.’s. on Church Street, and get one of the new patent Sphereotypes.

For Two Weeks prices of pictures will be low to accommodate all.

The second advertisement ran from March 19 to August 20, 1858.  Wells, Miller & Co., Would Call The Attention of Persons wishing accurate, durable and desirable likenesses, to the various styles of pictures taken by them at their Daguerrian Rooms and Portrait Gallery, Church Street, Burlington, Vermont.

Among which are Photographs, Sphereotypes, Ambrotypes, Melanotypes, Lettergraphs, &c.  Our Plain Photographs by an improved process we claim to be unsurpassed by any taken anywhere,—New York and Boston not excepted.  We furnish them also, beautifully finished in Oil, or India Ink, making the most beautiful and satisfactory likenesses known to art; and when several copies are desired, the cheapest pictures taken. 

Our Sphereotypes and patent Ambrotypes are unequalled.  We challenge comparison with them the Lettergraph is a picture taken on prepared cloth, of small size, very cheap, and very convenient for sending in a letter. 

The Public are desired to Take Particular Notice that we Own the Rights for Chittenden County, of the Sphereotype and Patent Ambrotype.—None are genuine without the Patent Mark.  People are cautioned against being humbugged by transient and irresponsible individuals into the purchase of pictures, which inferior at first, are sure to fade and become effaced by time. Our Ambrotypes and Sphereotypes are literally indestructible, except by violence or fire.

We pay particular attention to Pictures Of Children.  Infant’s likenesses taken in one second.  Bring the children along; we can take them; it is a sure thing with us.

We have the best rooms and the largest collection of specimens of our art in this State, and invite the Public generally to give us a call.  Wells, Miller & Co., Church st., Burlington, Vt.      

The third advertisement ran from July 2 to 30, 1858.  Where Did You Get That Picture?  Up At Wells, Miller & Co.’s.  The only pictures made on glass which are durable, are the patent Sphereotype and Patent Ambrotype.

Remember that, by using these Patents, we are able to make a much more prominent, brilliant and better picture, every way, and, as we say, the only Durable Picture; in saying so, we say what we know, as we have tested them to our entire satisfaction.  Wells, Miller & Co. have the exclusive right to use these Patents in this town and vicinity, and if any persons tell you that they make the Sphereotype or Ambrotype, they say what is not true.  And, of course, we shall not allow any one to infringe on them.  The Improved Ambrotype, so called, is worth but very little, and those who purchase them, will soon find out the fact.  They can be made cheap and will not last long; but if any person wishes to have such Pictures, we will make all they may want for 50 cents each.

Photographs made as well by any one in the country—colored in oil or touched with India Ink.

We have competent Copying Apparatus, for copying from small up to any size desired; we can copy up and color to nature, old and dim pictures which will soon be worthless, so that you can see your departed friends in life, as it were.

These Pictures Are As Permanent As Oil Portraits.

Please call at our Rooms, 146½ Church St., Burlington, and examine specimens.  Wells, Miller & Co.  Burlington, May 12, 1858

The fourth advertisement ran from August 20 to October 1, 1858.  Chittenden County Picture Gallery.  Wells, Miller & Co. [Successor to T. M. Parker.] Patent Sphereotype, Patent Ambrotypes, Melainotypes, Lettergraphs, Photographs. Plain, In Oil or India Ink.  Pictures made as cheap as in any place in Vermont, and Far Better,

Please remember the place 147½ Church Street, Burlington, Vt.  Burlington, May 17, 1858.

Wells, Miller & Co. do not appear in other photographic directories.  Charles Miller is recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as being active in Burlington in 1859-1860 (+).  Wells is unknown at this time.  One can speculate that it is Jeremiah D. Wells who was active in Northampton, Massachusetts, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, Brattleboro Vermont, (which is over 150 miles away from Burlington) and possibly Port Jervis, New York.

J. D. Wells

Ambrotypes, Daguerreotypes, , , ,

1856                Rooms in D. T. Cox’s Building, Pike Street, Port Jervis, New York.

J. D. Wells was recorded in two advertisement and one announcement in the Tri-State Union (Port Jervis, New York).  The first advertisement ran from July 10 to August 14, 1856.  Daguerreotype and Ambrotype Gallery.  The subscriber has opened a room in D. T. Cox’s building, Pike St., with a good skylight and other facilities for taking Daguerreotype and Ambrotype Likenesses, of superior finish, accuracy and artistic effect, and would be happy to wait upon those wishing a beautiful colored life-like miniature.  Strangers and citizens visiting this gallery can have portraits and miniatures beautifully cased in silk velvet, morocco, or other fancy cases, or set in gold lockets or pins.  Daguerreotypes, paintings or drawings copied, out door views and miniatures of sick or deceased persons taken.

He has made arrangements with Mr. E. Jessup of Middletown, who has the exclusive right for this county, for taking the Double-glass Ambrotypes, to attend at the subscribers gallery in Port Jervis, on Thursday and Friday of each week, and take portraits and miniatures by this new and beautiful process.

Gallery open from 8 o’clock a. m. until sunset.  J. D. Wells.     Port Jervis, June 26, 1856.

The second advertisement ran on July 24, 1856.  Ambrotypes.  The Ambrotype miniatures when taken properly and secured in the best manner surpass all other portraits.

There is the single and double glass process.  In the single the picture is liable to become loosened and fall from the glass, while in the double, the two glasses being cemented together, thereby excluding all influence of the air, they remain permanently fixed upon the glass.  They possess greater relief, depth of tone, as well as greater strength and beauty, than the single glass Ambrotypes.

Mr. E. Jessup of Middletown, the agent of the patentee for the Western portion of Orange County has a few specimens of each, the inspection of which will convince any one of the superiority of the patent double glass pictures.  This fact all should understand, for in the one they have a permanent picture, while in the other they are liable to lose the picture.

Mr. J. D. Wells, of this village, has made arrangements with Mr. Jessup by which he is able to furnish the inhabitants of Port Jervis and vicinity with the true double glass pictures.

N. B.  Some will tell you that they put up the double glass Ambrotypes, while they are only a reversed picture, covered over with a second glass, but not in a manner to exclude the air.  When you buy an Ambrotype, assure yourselves that the two glasses lie in close contact and are firmly cemented together.  Examine well the two classes of pictures before buying.

The announcement appeared on August 7, 1856.  A day or two since we saw several really fine and life-like Ambrotypes taken by our cleaver village artist, J. D. Wells, Give him a call.

J. D. Wells is not recorded in other photographic directories as being active in Port Jervis, New York.  It is possible that this is Jeremiah D. Wells from Northampton, Massachusetts who also had galleries in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and Brattleboro, Vermont.

Henry M. Wells

Ambrotypes, Daguerreotypes, , ,

1856                Address Unknown, Cambridge, New York.

Henry M. Wells appeared in one announcement in the Washington County People’s Journal  (Union Village, New York) on October 16, 1856.  Sixteenth Annual Cattle Show And Fair of the Washington County Agricultural Society.  List of Premiums Awarded at Union Village, Sept. 17th and 18th, 1856….

Non Enumerated Articles.  The committee respectfully reports that Henry M. Wells of Cambridge, presented to the committee for inspection a large variety of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and crayon daguerreotypes, which excel in beauty and finish, and awarded him a meritorious premium of three dollars.

Henry M. Wells is possibly recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry in 1859 as H. M. Wells of North White Creek, New York which is only 15 miles away from Cambridge. 

David A. Wells

Daguerreotypes,

1851                Address Unknown, Cambridge, [Unknown.][1]

David A. Wells appeared in one article in The New York Herald (New York, New York) on August 22, 1851.  American Association for the Advancement of Science, Albany meeting.  Wednesday’s Proceeding.  Wednesday, August 20, 1851.  The following is the order of the programme for the morning’s meeting, in Section No. 1.  Professor Bache presiding….

5. Daguerreotypes of the late Solar Eclipse, and of Spots on the Sun; by David A, Wells of Cambridge.

David A. Wells is not recorded in other photographic directories as being active in 1851 in Cambridge.  Since the State or Country are not recorded in the article one could speculate that the paper was published in N. Y. and Cambridge, N.Y. is only 53 miles away from Albany it has to be in New York.  But, there are 25 cities or towns named Cambridge in America, they are in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont Virginia, Wisconsin. Also in Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.  More research is needed to identify the location and if Wells is a daguerrean or possibly an astronomer, like William Cranch Bond and John Adams Whipple.

[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry list a David Wells in 1857 in Rochester, New York, it is unknown if they are the same person.

Wellman

Daguerreotypes, , , , ,

1845                Rooms over N. Beckwith’s Store, New London, Connecticut.

1845                Lawrence Building, Bank Street, New London, Connecticut.

Wellman of the firm Payne & Wellman (Elijah H. Payne & Wellman) were recorded in three advertisements in the Morning News (New London, Connecticut).    The first advertisement ran from April 11 to 18, 1845.  Daguerreotype Miniatures.  Payne & Wellman Would respectfully invite the Ladies and Gentlemen of this city to call at their Rooms, over N. Beckwith’s Store, on the Parade, and examine specimens of the Daguerrean Art, whether they contemplate sitting or not.  Their pictures are finished in such a manner that they are Indelible, and will be found to stand the test of a saline atmosphere.

Seaman will find this a favorable opportunity for procuring an imperishable and life-like Miniature of themselves, or friends.

Persons having Likenesses taken by the old process, can have them re-taken at a trifling expense.

The second advertisement ran from April 19 to 29, 1845.  Payne & Wellman Have Removed their Rooms to Lawrence’s Building, on Bank-street, where they are prepared to execute Daguerreotype Likenesses, in a manner superior to any heretofore taken in this city.

Ladies and Gents are respectfully invited to call and examine specimens.

The third advertisement ran from May 3 to 14, 1845.  Payne & Wellman, Daguerreotype Miniature Rooms, Lawrence’s Building, Bank-St.   Likenesses taken in all kinds of weather, warranted durable, and possessing all the beauties and perfection of nature.

Payne & Wellman are not recorded as being active in New London in 1845.  There is a possibly that Wellman is William A. Wellman who is reported in other sources as being active prior to 1850.     

R. H. Wellington

Daguerreotypes, ,

1851                Room at the City Hall, Columbus, Mississippi.

R. H. Wellington was recorded in one advertisement that ran from August 30 to November 1, 1851 in the Southern Standard (Columbus, Mississippi).  R. H. Wellington, Daguerreotypist, Wishes to inform the citizens of Columbus and the surrounding country, that he is prepared to execute Photographic likenesses in every variety of style, at the City Hall, where he would be happy to wait on those who may wish a perfect reflection of their features to life.

Surprising art, by which we lend

Our countenance to absent friend,

Or leave a token for the bower,

Where love laments the parting hour;

Where childhood, with its winsome face,     

And lovely woman’s queenly grace,

Or lordly man’s imperial frown,

Are, each, adroitly penciled down.

You that have beauty should to——take it,

You that have none, should come and let us make it.

The citizens are respectfully invited to call and examine specimens.           

R. H. Wellington is not recorded as being active in Columbus Mississippi.  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry does record Robert H. Wellington as being active in Memphis, Tennessee during this time.  It is unknown if they are the same person.  The distance between Memphis and Columbus is 184 miles.

James Welch

Daguerrean Car, Daguerreotypes, , ,

1856                On the Public Square, Savannah, Ohio.

James Welch appeared in one announcement in The Ashland Union (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) on September, 1856.  Great Democratic Rally—Boarder Ruffianism Triumphant……“Buck and Breck, Constitution and Union,” was the significant motto flung to the breeze, and they gave a pure Buchanier demonstration of their devotion to the Constitution and its guarantees of inalienable rights in a base and ruffianly attack upon the property of an individual for the exercise of his right of free thought.  The Daguerreotype Car of Mr. James Welch has occupied a place upon the public square a sufficient length of time to give it a “local habitation and a name.”  It was asked as a privilege by the Democracy, that they might be allowed to erect their platform upon the shady side of said car.  The privilege was courteously granted, but in doing so he surrendered no right to act with his own property as he saw fit.  He chose therefore to hang out a Republican flag through the sky-light of his car; the moment that this was done the ruffian spirit was predominant;…..

James Welch is not recorded in other photographic directories.

Weiser & Johnston

Daguerreotypes, ,

1849                Rooms on Market Street, over C. L. Jones’ New Store, Lewistown, Pennsylvania.

Weiser & Johnston were recorded in one announcement and one advertisement in the Lewistown Gazette (Lewistown, Pennsylvania).  The announcement appeared on June 30, 1849.  Messrs. Weiser & Johnston have opened a Daguerreotype establishment in the room over C. L. Jones’ new store, where they exhibit and take beautiful specimens of that art.  Thosde we have seen are certainly as perfect as any heretofore brought to our notice.  Give them a call.

The advertisement ran from June 30 to July 14, 1849. Miniatures For Only $1.50.  Weiser & Johnston, Daguerreotype Artist, Would respectfully inform the Ladies and Gentlemen of Lewistown and vicinity, that they have taken rooms for a short time immediately over the Store of Mr. C. L. Jones, In Market Street, and are prepared to execute Daguerreotype Likenesses in a style superior to any heretofore taken in Lewistown.

Then give us a call—our prices are low; Our work, it is perfect, as specimens show; The Sun is our pencil, with rev’rence we say, Your miniature made by the bright King of day.

Call soon.  Remember that delays are dangerous.

Instruction given in the art with all the late improvements, and apparatus furnished on reasonable terms.                             

Weiser & Johnson are not recorded in other photographic directories.  Looking through other photographic directories it is possible that Johnston is Charles M. Johnston who was active in Lancaster, Pa.  (speculation on my part, no collaborating documentation has been found to substantiate this claim.)  

Weiser & Delano

Daguerreotypes, , , ,

1857                Address Unknown, Steubenville, Ohio.

Weiser & Delano (George W. Weiser and Douglas C. Delano) were recorded in one announcement on June 17, 1857 in the True American (Steubenville, Ohio).  Great Excitement In Steubenville.—Not so much amongst the Bankers, Merchants and Mechanics, but at the Daguerrean Rooms of Weiser and Delano.

These gentlemen have for the last week been doing a business far beyond anything in that line, ever before witnessed in this city.  The reduced prices for which they are taking likenesses, together with the perfect style in which the work is done, have produced a general excitement in the entire community, and caused a general rush to their rooms.  We very much doubt whether any other city can boast of two better artists.

Go then—you are not afraid to look at yourselves precisely taken as you are, and get your likenesses taken for 25 cts. and then get one for each and every country cousin you have in the nation.

Both George W. Weiser and Douglas C. Delano are recorded in other photographic directories but not recorded as partners.