Graham family--New York--1880s--tintype needs restoration please

[Trishanne]

One from me
Pat

[Trishanne]

One with some colour
Pat

[jim1]

Two from me.

[Alison55]

Thank you very much to everyone who has sent restorations so far.  They are wonderful and I really appreciate all your hard work, especially as that tintype is so damaged.  So thank you to jim1, Cazza59 and Trishanne for the b/w and tinted/color versions of this family photo. 

And thank you too to IgorStrav for the input.  Your math was right on all the ages except the oldest brother was almost 17 years older--born December 1843.  The older sister died in 1889 so she can't be in the picture if it was the 1890s. Thanks again to Erato for the link!

We treasure this photo so I deeply appreciate your generous sharing of your considerable time and talent.

[IgorStrav]

You are most welcome Alison - don't forget to check out the link at the very top of my post, which shows an amazing gigot sleeve photo which is a very similar design to your seated lady.

And we complain about size 0 models these days, just look at the drawing of the waist of the dress.....

[McGroger]

Bit late to the party, but here's my try.

By the way, I wouldn't completely dismiss the idea of the seated lady being the mother. She is very dark under the eyes, has double chins and her cheeks are pouching and sagging a little. Also, because of the amount of damage to the photo there is no way of seeing what lines or wrinkles she might have had. Her hair looks dark but some people retain some colour - particularly redheads - could she have been one? I note also that she married early, being 50 in the 1875 census. A young looking 70 in the photo? Possibly.

Peter

[Treetotal]

Some excellent results on this very damaged but lovely image! Still plugging away at it and trying to make sense of some of the damaged areas...
Carol

[Alison55]

This is wonderful, Peter. Thank you so much.  This tintype is a real challenge and can't tell you how much I appreciate the time and effort that goes into a restoration.  Words aren't enough.

And you are spot on about the red hair. James P. Graham had eight children and at least three had red hair which I saw myself. Don't know about the others.  My great-aunt (his daughter) had hair that was still red at age 75.  She was a nun so no salons for her. When her order went to modified habits, I saw her hair for the first time and it was red as could be. What a shock. She had the feistiness to go with red hair too.

And Treetotal, take all the time you need.  It's waited over 125 years so no hurry at all 

Thank you all again!!

[jim1]

trying to make sense of some of the damaged areas

Thank God for the smudge tool.