The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (November 1889)

44 A Startling Optical Novelty. PHOTORAMIC AND PHONO-PHOTORAMIC EFFECTS. IT would doubtless seem strange if upon a screen a portrait (head) of a person were projected, and this picture slowly became of an animated character, opened its mouth, and began to talk, accompanied by an ever-changing countenance, including the formation of the mouth as each peculiar sound is uttered; or if, instead of one head, two were produced, and an argument gone through with all the turns and twists of the head incidental to such. It would also appear curious to have a street scene depicted on the screen, and for the spectators to witness the various horses and vehicles running past in all directions, persons walking to and fro, and dogs running along, all at varying speeds and with life-like motion, and not go past in a gliding manner—all this not as silhouettes, but with all detail. Strange as all this may seem, it is now an accomplished fact, and the optical lantern will shortly be considered a sxe gua non as a recording instrument. Imagine the sensation that would be produced if the whole of the recent Lord Mayor’s Show were to be presented upon a screen exactly as seen by a person stationed at one particular point looking across the street. The houses on the Opposite side would remain stationary, and the procession would pass along, each minute movement, as it actually took place at this given point, being represented. The name of Friese Greene, the eminent photographer of Brooke-street, W., will become familiar throughout the land in connection with an invention by which all these effects can be produced. He has invented a peculiar kind of camera—to outward appearance not unlike an American organette, handle and all, about one foot square. This instrument is pointed at a particular moving object, and by turning the handle several photographs are taken each second. These are converted into transparencies, and placed in succession upon a long strip, which is wound on rollers and passed through a lantern of peculiar construction (also the invention of Mr. F. Greene), and by its agency projected upon the screen, The Optical Magio Lantern Journal and Photographio Enlarger. When the reproduction of speech is also desired, this instrument is used in conjunction with the phonograph. In our next issue we hope to be able to give full particulars, with drawings of this wonderful instrument, or rather combination of instruments. We have seen and examined the camera, and can vouch for its doing all that is here stated. A Novel Means of Changing Slides in a Single Lantern. A NEW form of lantern slide changer is about to be placed upon the market by numerous dealers, the changer and lantern being combined. A patent No. 12,860 has been obtained by Mr, Alfred Wrench, by whom his form of lantern has been named 7%e Terpuoscope. It is furnished with an automatic slide carrier anda rolling curtain effect, the working of which is as follows :— Before the entertainment commences, a _photographic slide is placed in the grooves, under the front tubes, as will be seen from the cut, and is by a single turn of a rack and pinion smoothly and quickly sent up into its place, where it is caught by springs and properly ceatered. Noso nar has this been done than the black curtain, by which the screen was,obscured, is raised up, showing a picture. While this is being ex