Figure 1.--Here we have an 1/6th plate ambrotype of two boys, presumably brothers. They are dressed up in cut-away jackets with rasther eide cut button-on knee pants and white long-stockings. TThere is decirative trim on the knee hem. There are hand tinted cheeks. It was done with a leather case.

Shortened-length pants appeared in the mid-19th century. We think this was during the 1850s, at least to any extent. It is difficult to determine with any percision because so few images are dated. We have not yet found Dags showing boys wearing shortened-length pants. Dags were, however, no longer the only commercial photographic format. The Ambrotype appeared (mid-1850s). It was a cheaper format, because a glass late was used rather than a metal plte and soon became the primary format. Like the Dags, only one imge was created and they were caried in cases. We have found a few Ambros showing boys wearing knee pants. While they are not dated, they surely were taken in the mid- to late 1850s. The early-60s re also possiblem but both Dags abd nvros were quickly replaced by the CDV in the early-60s. Shortened-length pants were first worn by younger boys and cut rather long, often to calf level. They gradually increased in popularity subsequently during the 19th century. A good example is a younger boy in the late 1850s. It should be stressed that long pontswere moew common, even for tounger boys, but we do see a few exmples.

Created: 11:00 PM 9/15/2022
Last updated: 11:00 PM 9/15/2022