Tag Archives: Daguerreotypist

Bablin

Recorded in the Lansingburgh Democrat, published in Lansingburgh, New York on February 3d and 10th, 1853.  Two notices appear in the paper which are very confusing, on the third he is listed in the partnership of Irvin & Bablin, Daguerrian Artist, over T. Lavender’s Grocery Store.  The notice goes on to say that we are satisfied that they are artists of considerable merit.  On the 10th they are identified as Ravlen & Irving, the notice mentions that they have just received a new invoice of splendid Pearl, Velvet, and Ivory Inlaid cases, for Daguerreotypes. There is no mention of the two daguerreotypist after the February 10th listing in the newspaper.

In the process of trying to identify who Bablin (Ravlen) and Irvin (Irving) might be. I checked Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.  There was no listing found for Bablin or Ravlen, Under Irvin there is a listing for James Irvin.  John suggest that it is a spelling variant for James Irving.  John says that he was an Itinerate and worked for the Meade Brothers and was in Troy, New York from 1852 to 1861.  The distance from Lansingburgh to Troy is under twelve miles so it is possible that James Irving is part of the partnership based on activity date and location, but this is just speculation on my part.  Bablin/Ravlen remains unknown at this time, but if Irving turns out to be the correct name then that means that Ravlen is possibly the correct name and Bablin is a typo.

 

George H. Auxer

George H. Auxer was listed in an announcement on July 12, 1850 in the Lewistown Gazette, published in Lewistown, Pennsylvania.  Mr. G. H. Auxer, a daguerreotypist of high repute, has opened a gallery in Market street, above J. Evans’ chair factory, where he will be prepared to take likenesses in the highest style of the art.

On July 19th in the same paper the following advertisement appears…Daguerreotypes. The undersigned respectfully informs the public that he has taken the room over Mr. John Evans’ Chair Manufactory, where he is prepared to make Daguerreotype Likenesses in the highest style of the art.  He has possessed himself of all the improvements in the art, and is prepared to give as finished and perfect a picture as can be produced in the cities.  Light eyes have heretofore been an obstacle in the way of securing good pictures, but this he is able to obviate.  Call at his rooms and examine the specimens, and judge for yourselves.  Instructions given in the art, on reasonable terms.  Advertisement ran until August 2, 1850.

On January 8 1857 he is again reported in the Lewistown Gazette.  This time they quote the Perry Freeman newspaper which was published in Bloomfield, Pennsylvania “Auxer is nit taking dog-types but ambrotypes…”

Craig’s Daguerreian Registry list Auxer in 1850-1851 Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and in 1859-1860 on Elbow Lane near Front Street, Marietta, Pennsylvania.

Moses Atwood

During the latter part of the nineteenth century, Georgetown continued to prosper as more industries and shops, such as the manufacturing of clothing, cigars, soap, furniture, coffins and caskets, began their businesses here. Hardy’s Lumber Mill cut lumber and made wooden boxes and crates. Moses Atwood made patent medicines and was best known for his “Atwood’s Bitters”. A New York City firm bought the Bitters formula and, under another name, sold the medicine nationally until the mid-1900’s. Atwood also made the first daguerreotypes in town in 1847.[1]

Atwood is a new name and not recorded in A Directory of Massachusetts Photographers, 1839-1900.

[1] Information from the town of Georgetown, Massachusetts website http://www.georgetownma.gov/public_documents/georgetownma_webdocs/about

 

Joseph Atkins

From the New York Daily Tribune, New York, New York, printed on October 29, 1851.

The official declaration of premiums awarded at the Twenty-Fourth Annual Fair of the American Institute for Daguerreotypes. Atkins receives a silver medal for his cameo daguerreotypes.  The full list of premiums awarded are recorded below.

  • M. A. & S. Root, No. 363 Broadway, best Daguerreotypes—Gold Medal.
  • J. Gurney, No. 159 Broadway, 2d best Daguerreotypes,—Silver Medal.
  • J. D. W. Brinkerhoff, No. 383 Broadway, for Still Life Daguerreotype Views—Silver Medal.
  • S. A. Holmes, No. 289 Broadway, Still Life Daguerreotype Views.—Silver Medal.
  • Joseph Atkins, No. 219 Fulton-St., Brooklyn, Cameo Daguerreotype—Silver Medal.
  • H. E. Insley, No 311 Broadway, Illuminated Daguerreotypes—Silver Medal.
  • Krochls & Vetters, No. 499 Broadway, Phototypes—Silver Medal.
  • Mrs. Bertha Wehnert, No. 385 Broadway, Phototypes.—Silver Medal.
  • C. C. Harrison, No. 85 Duane St., Daguerreotype Cameras.—Gold Medal.

Note Craig’s Daguerreian Registry list Atkins as being active from 1848-1852 at 219 Fulton Street, Brooklyn and from 1852–1860 at 263 Fulton Street, Brooklyn.

Armstrong & Miller

Recorded on March 6, 1856 in The Wyandot Pioneer newspaper, published in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.  Daguerrean Artist.  Two gentlemen, named Armstrong and Miller, have recently opened a Daguerrean Gallery on Main Street, a few doors south of the Layton House.  We visited their rooms and found all the necessary apparatus and materials for taking good likenesses, together with a fine sky-light which had been gotten up expressly for that purpose.  Call and see them.

No other advertisements, notices or articles have been found to date, to shed light on these two daguerreotypist. They have not been recorded previously in other directories or histories.

Mr. Armington

Recorded in the Lynn News, published in Lynn, Massachusetts on April 26, 1850. Daguerreotype Gallery, In The Sagamore Building, near the Central Building, Lynn.  J. H. Currier, Daguerrian Artists, having procured of his late partner, Mr. Armington, his large German Instrument, is now prepared to execute Miniatures of all styles, in groups or single, on small or the largest sized plates that are used.

The date on the advertisement is February 1, 1850. No other advertisements or articles relating to the partnership or to Mr. Armington have been located, and no address was associated to the partnership.  One might speculate that since the partnership was mention in the advertisement that the address of the partnership was the same.

We can further speculate that this might be the H. Armington who wrote a letter to Southworth & Hawes on October 13, 1846 from Pawtucket, Massachusetts.

Pawtucket Mass. Oct. 13th 1846 Messrs.  Southworth & Hawes, Gents, We have seen in pictures in Providence said to have been taken with “quickstuff” prepared and sold by you, which we liken the appearance of very much. We wish you to send us a bottle of the same with the directions necessary for using it.  If we could produce the same results with it as those we saw in Providence should like to make use of it altogether, Please write us your lowest price for Scovilles No. 1 Medium Plates. Also cheapest Medium satin cases also Velvet good articles.  Yours Respectfully                 H. Armington & Co. [1]

 Note that Mr. Armington,  J. H. Currier and their partnership do not appear In The Directory of  Massachusetts Photographers, 1839-1900.

[1] Manuscript formerly in Matthew R. Isenburg’s Collection.

Lewis Applegate

Reported in  The Brooklyn Daily Eagle published in Brooklyn, New York on April 29, 1854.

John Karch, was arrested on the charge of stealing daguerreotypes, from the gallery of Lewis Applegate, in Myrtle Avenue. Several counterfeits of the “human face divine” were found in the possession of the accused, who was brought before Justice Smith, and sentenced to imprisonment in the Penitentiary for six months.

Applegate has previously not been recorded and no other advertisements or articles have been found.

Appleby & Wood

Reported in the Penn Yan Democrat¸ published in Penn-Yan, New York on August 24, 1852.   The partnership of Richard B. Appleby & S. Wood from Rochester, New York are in Penn Yan making daguerreotypes and selling frames, cases, and gold lockets.

R. B. Appleby, the Proprietor of the Rochester National Daguerrean Gallery, Who stands so deservedly at the head in that city, where, perhaps, there is more rivalry in this new and beautiful art than in any other place west of the city of New York, and S. Wood, who has been so eminent in the above named establishment for the past year, and who brings to the aid of the art a very comprehensive mechanical genius; have formed a collation for the purpose of an itinerant picture business, for a short time, during the dull season in the city.

They have brought from their Rochester some specimens, among which are several full size—pictures of Jenny Lind and Husband, President Fillmore and Cabinet, etc.

They go on to discuss that it’s better to have a good daguerreotype taken by them, because a poor one cannot be copied if your friend dies. Post mortem photographs are expensive and are very unsatisfactory.  This is a common argument in photographic advertisements life is short and death can happen to anyone.

The advertisement ran for four weeks from August 24 to September 14, 1852.  While Richard B. Appleby is known in Rochester, S. Wood is possibly a new name Craig list three S Wood’s in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry, an  S. J. Wood in 1851 location unknown; Sydney A. Wood in Auburn, New York 1859 and another Sydney A. Wood 1858-1859  in Madison Wisconsin.

A. Andrews

On September 20, 1853 A. Andrews advertises in the Penn Yan Democrat, Penn-Yan, New York.  Offering his daguerreotype apparatus for sale.  The subscriber having tried daguerreotyping to his heart contented, or rather discontented, has returned to his first love. “portrait painting, and now wishes to sell out his whole apparatus.  He has on hand a full and complete apparatus, chemicals, a snug little outfit of Plates, Cases, Lockets, &c. all of which he will sell upon the most reasonable terms for Ready Cash

Any one wishing to embark in the Daguerrian business cannot do better than to call on the subscriber at his rooms in Penn Yan, in the old Stewart & Tunnicliff building, up stairs.

There is only one A.  Andrews listed in The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists In America 1564-1860.  It is Ambrose Andrews, but there is no proof at this time that they are the same person.

 

W. Anderson

W. Anderson was recorded on October 23, 1847 in The Spirit of Democracy, published in Woodsfield, Ohio. He has taken rooms at John Steed’s and is prepared to execute daguerreotype likenesses in a superior style, either colored or in mezzotint. They will find Mr. Anderson not only skillful, but urbane, and prepossessing in his manners; placing every visitor at his ease, and insuring confidence and comfort in the sitting.

It is unknown how long Anderson spent in Woodsfield.  Both Craig’s Daguerreian Registry and  Ohio Photographers 1839-1900 list William Anderson, III in Dayton, Ohio from 1850-1857.  Ohio Photographers also list a W. Anderson in Dayton in 1853.  It is unknown if they are the same person or possibly three different daguerreotypist.