An early photo

[retepniltub]

I have a very old photo of a couple of old ancestors. If I knew the rough date I could probably identify them.
When I first saw it I thought it was a negative but then realised it was on a 2"x3" plasticy sort of thin rigid card. It was very dark and I was able to scan it and bring out the features. I do not think it is a photo that is mounted, I think the card is integral to the picure.
I am sure someone will say 'oh thats a so and so process', I have not a clue. I would be very appreciable if anyone has any ideas.

[jim1]

This looks like a tintype with the rigid card being a thin piece of iron by the look of it.
These were popular with itinerant photographers from around the 1890's although the process had been in existence from around 1860.
Their popularity was because they were instant ie. no negative was used so no developing. As a result these are in reverse as the medium used was what went into the camera.
This is how they would have been placed at the time.
As for a date 1910-14.

[retepniltub]

Thanks Jim, that sort of stacks up. One of the ladies looks just like my grandmother and the photo taken around 1910 would work very well, who the other lady is I do not know but at least I know who to look for. Very many thanks