Hall's illustrated catalogue of magic lanterns, dissolving lanterns, and stereopticons : for societies, parlor entertainment, panoramas, and public exhibitions. (1873?)

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20 hall's illustrated catalogue op the lantern is from the wall or screen the larger will be the image, but the illumination will not be so perfect as when closer. To Produce the Phantasmagoria Effect. The operator should be on one side of the screen, as already described, and the spectators on the other. Taking the lantern under his left arm, he should go up pretty close to the screen and adjust the focus with his right hand. The image, of course, will be very small; he must then walk slowly backward, at the same time adjusting the focus. As the image increases in size, it wiil appear to the spectators to be coming towards them ; and then again let him walk up towards the screen, thus diminishing the image, and it will appear to them as if receding. The screen not being seen, the image appears to be suspended in the air, and the deception is complete, even to those accustomed to the exhibition. Slides producing the best phantasmagoria effect are those con- taining but one or two figures, and all the rest of the glass painted black ; such, for instance, as some of the comic slip slides. Phantasmagoria Magic Lanterns fop Public Exhi- bitions. The Magic Lanterns, Stereopticons, and Dissolving View Ap- oaratus, described in the foregoing pages, are all made in our own manufactory, and under our immediate supervision, and each instrument is carefully examined and thoroughly tried before leaving our premises. The word phantasmagoria is derived from two Greek words, meaning a spectre and T meet, and has reference to the manner in which the magic lantern can be used. The name is only applied to magic lanterns of a superior kind, where the condensing lens is composed of two plano-convex lenses, and the magnifying lens of two concavo-convex lenses. Phantasmagoria Magic Lanterns, with achromatic lenses, pro- duce the pictures on the screen as distinct around the edges as in the centre, and very sharply defined all over; those without achromatic lenses are as well made, except in this one particular. The prices attached to the Phantasmagoria Magic Lanterns for Public Exhibitions do not include pictures of any kind.