American Jack the Ripper - True Crime Conference, Baltimore, April 7-8, 2018

[ChrisGeorge]

Next RipperCon 2018 trivia question, with yet another special prize. Gut and Melissa on our Facebook page, you've both won before so you are ineligible. One prize per customer is the rule going forward.

What is this man's real name?

[ChrisGeorge]

Big announcement!

We have a winnah in the latest RipperCon Trivia Contest!

Our winner is our good friend Gut, who answered --

A Tinytype is type of photograph.

Watch your spelling Gut TinType.

A positive photo shot on a small piece of tin, hence the name.

Correct, Gut. You win!

Only, to correct you slightly, the metal was not tin, despite the misleading name. Rather, the metal used to make tintype photographs in the late 19th Century and into the 20th century actually was iron -- it is magnetic.

You've won our latest contest, Gut, and I'll send you the following period tintype if you provide your snail mail address. When you get it, you will be able to test that the photo is magnetic!



As explained by a historian friend of mine in discussion of the photograph which betrays some pink tinting on the man's lips and cheeks:

"Judging by the subject's clothing and the gray tone (as opposed to the chocolate tones produced later), I'd say the image could be Civil War period but in any case not long afterward. The tinting of cheeks, buttons, jewelry, etc. was commonly done to tintypes.

"The size of yours [2.5 inches by 2 inches] indicates it is a 9th plate tintype, that is, 9 identical exposures made on one sheet of 'tin' (actually iron) with a 9 lens camera, thus producing multiple exposures on one sheet that could be cut apart so you could give individual copies to family and friends."

[GUT]

Toy take a small piece of tin (probably other metals can be used too) coat it in enamel, paint in photograpgic emulsion expose and develop.

[GUT]

Watch your spelling Gut TinType.

A positive photo shot on a small piece of tin, hence the name.

[GUT]

A Tinytype is type of photograph.

[ChrisGeorge]

Registration Cost for RipperCon in Baltimore April 7-8, 2018

Hello everyone

RipperCon 2018, Jack the Ripper-True Crime conference to be held in Baltimore, Maryland this coming April, is going to be a big one so don't miss out. Our talks will be held at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in the College's 90-year-old Italianate Main Building in Room 110 off Statuary Hall (see images below).

RipperCon is the ONLY North American conference to be held during the 130-year anniversary of the Ripper murders. We have only 50 places available for registrants, so be sure to book early.

Meanwhile, we have a trivia contest going on, one of a series of trivia questions to be posted over the coming months. A precursor to the hour-long trivia contest with some worthwhile prizes planned for Sunday afternoon -- just to keep everyone on their toes!

What is a tintype?

First to answer will receive a genuine period tintypue -- er, whatever it is. Good luck, everyone! (NOTE: Mr. Hutchinson, you are "recused" from answering.)

Following are the details about registering for RipperCon 2018:

Registration is $140 or $120 for persons who agree to appear at RipperCon in period costume for two days of talks 9 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, with 12+ expert speakers and panelists. Of the registration price, $80 is due now, and the remainder should be paid by February 14, 2018. All payments by PayPal to editorctrip@yahoo.com.

Registration includes entry to Friday night reception at a special location to be announced. Reception will feature free soft drinks and water and a cash bar for those who to purchase wish beer, wine, or liquor.

We are planning a separately priced all-day bus tour of Baltimore probably Friday or Monday to visit John Wilkes Booth's grave as well as Poe's grave and house, the Maryland Medical Examiner's office, and Fort McHenry with on-your-own lunch at a restaurant in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Saturday night will feature a banquet with speakers and entertainment -- details and price to be announced.

Questions anyone? Either PM me here or e-mail me at editorctrip@yahoo.com.

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Main Building, Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore - Venue for the daytime talks at RipperCon 2018



Statuary Hall in the Main Building at MICA. Talks are scheduled for Room 11 in the left hand corner.

[ChrisGeorge]

Co-organizer Janis Wilson and I are presently in the early stages of planning for the April 2018 event, talking to potential speakers and performers and lining up a venue and activities. As with the April 2016 event that we held at the Maryland Historical Society, it will be a combined Jack the Ripper and true crime weekend, and naturally there will be some surprises, a Saturday night dinner, and a planned tour of Baltimore. We welcome hearing from persons with proposed talks and ideas for the event as well as enquiries from interested attendees. Interested parties should feel free to contact me at editorctrip@yahoo.com. Stay tuned for further announcements.