The instructions that we had for our tintype plates read as follows:

"Welcome to the wonderful world of tintype photography!  We know you will have a wonderful time with these plates, and you will have even more fun if you follow these simple instructions."

It continues with the following:

"This is not the kind of film that comes in yellow boxes from the local drugstore.  A hundred years ago, photography was complicated, mysterious and even dangerous.  We think that tintypery brings back a certain spirit of adventure lacking in this day of Polaroid and Instamatic photography.  So, if your first exposure looks less than SX-70 quality, don't be downhearted.  Remember, Mathew Brady had all that to contend with, and cannonballs, too!"

With that in mind, we set off to the State Fair of Texas!