Tyler & Co.
Tyler & Co.
American, active mid-19th century
Tyler, James
Current research indicates there is every reason to believe there was a direct connection between daguerreians Edward M. Tyler (Boston, Mass.; Providence, R.I.; Memphis, Tenn.); James Tyler (Cincinnati, Ohio); E.A. Tyler (Charleston, S.C.; and possibly New Orleans, La.); and Tyler & Co. (noted in all the cities above). In all instances, except for the Memphis, Tenn. listing, Tyler & Co. appear to be the original mass merchandisers of the daguerreian era; their advertisements all proclaimed hundreds of images taken in a single day, and promoted low prices for daguerreotypes.
Edward M. Tyler was first listed in Boston, Mass. in 1854. With his gallery at 2 Winter Street, advertising as Tyler & Co., he offered images "Taken with the Double Camera for 25 Cents Taken by Tyler & Co./ Corner of Winter and Washington Sts/ Boston. 600 Daily, advise to keep clean." In 1855 Tyler & Co. was succeeded by Taber (C.D.) & Co.
Edward M. Tyler is probably the same as E.M. Tyler, listed as a daguerreian in Providence, R.I., in 1860, at 81 Westminster Street. He boarded at the City Hotel at this time.
In late December, 1855, Tyler & Co. purchased the gallery of J.M. Osborn at 233 King Street, Charleston, S.C. One of their advertisements proclaimed they had won a wager in New Orleans by taking 1,000 daguerreotypes in four hours. With twenty employes, they offered mass production of images at low prices. While there is no first name associated with this Tyler & Co., there is a record of an E.A. Tyler purchasing supplies from George S. Cook in 1854.
Tyler & Co. operated in Charleston from December, 1855 to June, 1856, and again from November, 1856 until early 1857, when the business was sold to Quinby & Co. During the year operation, there is evidence that Osborn continued to be associated with the firm, and that S.C. Mouzon may also have worked in the gallery in 1856, during the firm's hyatus. In December, 1856, an advertisement noted an English photographer named Turbout Quinbie, who had been hired to take photographs on silk for the firm.
In 1857, a daguerreian named James Tyler had rooms in Cincinnati, Ohio, at #30 and #32 Fourth Street. He advertised the business as James Tyler & Co., Great Daguerreotype Depot. A card on the reverse of a ninth plate daguerreotype noted the company was the proprietor and originator of the invention by which 800 portraits were executed daily. "Three taken at a pop." The form and wording of the ad corresponds very closely to that used by Edward Tyler in Boston.
In 1859-1860, an Edward M. Tyler advertised his daguerreian gallery at 219 Main Street, Memphis, Tenn. In 1859 he was listed with his residence on St. Patrick Street; in 1860 he advertised as Tyler & Co., and offered ambrotypes, photographs, etc. Information corrected to November, 1997; © 1996, 1997 John S. Craig
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