Occupational tintype ca 1880’s. Private Collection.
This teen is posing with a CDV size piece of paper in his hand. He’s also sitting on what looks to be a hanging dark oil cloth. He’s resting his arm on some sort of machine behind him. A Difference Machine as was suggested by another collector? I’m not sure but this looks to me like it is photography or plate printing related. The seller thought it was a voting machine. A person suggested it is a balustrade, but I digress…I welcome opinions. What is it?
Bowlers And High Collars 
May 9th, 2016 at 9:19 pm
I hope you find the answer to this mystery!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 10th, 2016 at 2:31 am
Thank you! So far still no definite answer. I’ll be posting it in various groups on fb, maybe I’ll get lucky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 10th, 2016 at 2:32 am
Showed this to my aged ancestors. My dad thought it looked like the box is made of woven material, like fine wicker and that the attachments are from leather. He thought it could be for storing fishing flies but could it explain the tiered design.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 10th, 2016 at 2:34 am
Thanks for asking around! To me the box looks like wood with metal parts. I’m going to edit this post later today to add a close-up of the box.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 10th, 2016 at 2:33 am
I don’t think I agree with the attachments being leather but the basketry theory is possible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 10th, 2016 at 2:33 am
Which groups Caroline?
LikeLiked by 1 person
May 10th, 2016 at 2:39 am
There are a few: Vintage Photo graphy Collecting, Lives of the past in old photos, the vintage photobooth (they allow all kinds, not just photobooth), the daguerrean society (they allow tintypes and I posted it there first).
LikeLiked by 1 person