This is a small colouring set probably intended for tinting Daguerreotypes or collodion positives. One of the dishes is missing the other has silver staining. The spelling of color is interesting.

At the time Printing Frames were usually known as Pressure Frames. Better quality models had hinged wooden bars secured by thumbscrews, one of the bars could be lifted without disturbing the print to view progress. Cheaper models using springs were available similar to those used in later periods. The wooden bar pattern continued to be used in larger sizes particularly in the printing industry.

To sensitise the iodised collodion plate it was dipped into a bath of silver nitrate. The baths were narrow upright containers in which the plate was dipped vertically. The usual material was glass but ceramic, ebonite and Gutta Percha was also used. The plate was lowered into the bath using a dipper. This was sometimes of ribbed glass bent at one end to hold the plate, other patterns were of ebonite or metal with sliver prongs to hold the plate. The sides of the bath were bowed to allow the insertion of the dipper. Baths may be held in a simple frame with legs which held it upright, for travelling the bath would have been in a box with an air-tight lid. The vertical bath presented a smaller air surface than a flat dish and helped preserve the solution.

The solution for the bath varied but was typically: Nitrate of Silver, 40 grains; Alcohol, 25 minims; Distilled water, 1 fluid ounce. Nitric Acid was sometimes included. The temperature was not critical but had to be above 60°F. The plate remained in the solution for about two minutes or so, it was then drained and put, whilst still moist, in the dark-slide of the camera.

The dish has silver nitrate stains, it was possibly used for preparing and sensitising albumen paper. 4" x 5".

This is a pneumatic plate holder for use when coating the plate with collodion and developing. The suction pad is operated by a screw in the handle.