Question: I understand from that one of my ancestors produced brass frames for daguerreotype photographs in New York. He worked for the Anthony company that was in business before the Civil War.
Answer: The E. Anthony Daguerreian Manufactory company did exist in New York during the time frame you mentioned. There is a very interesting illustrated history of this company from 1854 online from the Daguerreian Society - A Comprehensive and Systematic Catalog of Photographic
apparatus and material, and manufactured, imported and sold by E. Anthony, No.
308 Broadway, New York. With an introduction on the manufacturer of daguerreotype
apparatus and material. Illustrated. (New
York, H.H. Snelling, 1854): http://www.daguerre.org/resource/anthony/anthony1.html