Quick tip/note to add - I have an old tintype which is very dark & hard to make out. I found a terrific solution to seeing it better & having a good copy of it. To make a great copy of a tintype into a photograph - go to any store which had a Kodak Photomaker Machine (Here in CA, the Sav-on Stores & Kinko's have them). The Photomaker will scan the image on your tintype & then you can adjust the darkness/lightness of the photo. Adjust it lighter & lighter until it's exactly right. When it prints out - it's easier to see what the photo contains in greater detail & you now have a safe duplicate of your tin type - for about $5. Good luck! Peggy E-MAIL: [email protected] Los Angeles, Ca. Researching: PRIEST, COX, MENDEL, HARMAN, SMITH, GOETZ/GATES, CRESAP, CLARK, POTTS, CONRAD, BURFORD, ROBBINS, LARIMORE, NELSON, HOLMES, YOCUM/YOKUM, WELLS, PRATHER, SNODGRASS: in W.VA., Ohio, VA, PA, MD, Switzerland, England, Germany, etc. ROWE, WOODBURY, MURRAY, KIRWIN: in TX, Calif, Fla, Mass, ME, IN, CT, MD, England, Ireland & Canada. LAUCHU, WATTS, FERNANDEZ, CABALLERO: Michigan, Panama, Cuba, China [Proud member: SCGS, WCGS.] My family coat of arms ties at the back.....is that normal?