Figure 1.--This English tin-type photograph shows what looks to be a family group about to take some sort of tourist sail boat ride. We are not sure if a street photographer took the photograph or if father was a amateur hobbist. The children look to be boys wearing mtching outfits. We are not sure if they are wearing tunics or smocks. Given tht this might be an intance where protective garments were in order so they are probably snocks.

There is a complication in assessing smocks in that boys also wore tunics at mid-century. And it is difficult in some images to tell if the boys are wearing a smock or a tunic. Some images at mid-century are not as clear as later imagery. Smocks were a protective garment while tunics while plain were not prorecting the clothes worn underneath. Although the tunic was seen as a school garment, erhapless exprensive thn a suit jacket. This may provide some clues as to whether we are looking at a smock or tunic. Unfortunately so few photographs were taken outside the studio, but they are a few. Interestngly, while there is a much larger American hotographic record in the mid-19th century, there do seem to be more British photographs taken outside the studio. We arenot sure why. We notice one tin-type of an unientified family about to take a boat ride. We think the children may be wearing smocks rather than tunics.

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Created: 7:48 AM 1/29/2018
Last updated: 7:48 AM 1/29/2018