The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (December 1890)

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarper. 61 merits of Alexandra, this oil possesses every Constituent of success for this work. It possesses a flashing point as high as from 135 deg. to 140 deg. | Fahr., the light is perfectly fine and steady, but it requires a perfect form of burner to derive these advantages.” To obtain a satisfactory light with even the best forms of burner, the lamp must be kept in good order. Some time ago we published instructions respecting the care of oil lamps. The care of a lamp appears such an every-day matter that many seem to think it should under any and all conditions give a good light. Messrs. Perken, decided in future to send out instructions with each of their oil lanterns. These being concise, we here reproduce them :— (1) Wipe the front and condensing lenses with a piece of soft silk free from every particle of dust. (2) Thoroughly dry new wick before putting into the lamp, let the wick be saturated with oi] before lighting. (3) The best parafiin oil gives the brightest light. Diener’s At safety oil, and Strange’s A r crystal oil, also the Vaseline Co.’s Luxor, are specially recommended. (4) The best quality wick is indispensable to brilliant illumination, Cheap wicks and cheap oils are false economies, answerable for very many failures and disappointments when exhibiting the lantern. (A large and strong pair of scissors should be used to trim the wicks, or preferably the “ Optimus " patent wick trimmer, as a perfectly straight and even edge to the cotton is necessary to the avoidance ; Cut off the protruding | of an uneven flame and smoke. corners to allow the flame to draw evenly upwards. (5) Light the lamp with wax vestas or tapers. The heads of matches or charred paper are liable to fall into the air passages between the wick tubes, so impeding complete combustion,. _ (6) When lighting the lamp, do not turn the wicks high immediately, but raise them little by little at intervals of a few minutes. This system, besides improving the flame, gradually warms the condensing and front lenses ; if suddenly heated they are likely to crack, Cold air being allowed to blow ona heated condenser will also certainly cause unequal contraction, a cracked glass. (7) The oil reservoir and other exterior parts of the lamp should be wiped perfectly dry, otherwise the oil about them will vapourise and fill the apartment with a most unpleasant odour. (8) The wick should be trimmed prior to each exhibition, and when not burning should be turned one-eighth of an meated with oil. (9) A plentiful supply of pure airis an imperative necessity to perfect combustion or perfect illumination, In crowded rooms, opening a window or door will greatly improve the light of the lamp ; insufficiency of air ensures a bad light and | an unsatisfactory exhibition. Like ourselves, the lamp gives its best results when it enjoys pure air, clean surroundings, and pure food (oil). : : A new oil lamp for lanterns has been invented by Mr. William Stocks, of Rye. It is claimed by the inventor that it will burn with great steadiness of flame, combined with intense brilliancy, and there is an arrangement whereby, it is said, it can be successfully used in a room in which the air is somewhat vitiated. 2 : ‘ t inch below the top of wick tubes, so that they may be per: | of unexposed plates | finder, on one side Hand Cameras for Obtaining | Slides for the Lantern.. "CRQFELA “Pacile’... ... (Fallowfield) ... see March Ist, 1890. No.1 “Giah" ... 4. (Mawson & Son). eon May Ist, » 1 2 “Quadrant ". (W.H. Humphries & Co.) ,, June lst, ,, » 3 Eclipse” . GJ. F.Shew & Co.).. eon July Ist, 1 4 ‘°Eureka” . (W.W. Rouch & Co.) .. a) AUB: Ist. 4, a oo Rey ... (Platinotype Co.) oe oy Sept. Ist, or », 6 Optimus”... (Perken, Son & Rayment) ,, Oct. Ist, os yy 7 “ The Griffin” (Griffin & Sons, Limited) ,, Nov. 1st, or No. 8.—THE “SWINDEN-EARP" PATENT. {THis popular camera—of which we here give a description—is the invention of Messrs. Swinden and Earp, of 21, Islington, Liverpool, who were awarded ‘the medal for its excellency at the exhibition held Son, and Rayment have | last year in connection with the Photographic Society of Great Britain. ‘The camera, which, like many hand cameras, has the appearance of a box, covered in black leather, is devoid of projecting handles or knobs. The }-plate size measures 1osin. long x 5fin. wide < din. deep. The movements for exposing and changing the plates are operated from underneath. A door at the back of the camera opens by pulling up a small ring at the end (Fig. 1), and it is here that the > apparatus is charged with plates The plates, previous to being placed in the camera, are backed with orange-coloured paper: this. is speedily effected with the aid of a special tool supplied with each outfit. The compartment for the stock of plates is capable of holding twenty ; into this they are placed in an upright position, after which a follower (C) is placed against the last plate. In order to insure the plates being kept against the exposing plane there are two spring rods (AA), which during the time the camera is being charged are turned on the sides at BB. When placing the Fie. 1. follower (C) in position it engages with a rod (1*), and moves on a ig. 2), from which terminates in a pointer, graduated scale under the camera at M (F which the number in the may be at a remaining chamber ascertained glance. On the top of the camera is a sunk of which is a scale ; along this an arm Fie. 2. moves, so that the lens may be set to any desired focus. The front containing the lens is racked to and fro by turning H until the arm arrives at the required figure on the scale. The shutter, which is of the Kershaw pattern, I> secured to a hinged door, and works in front of the lens. It is operated by a simple arrangement ; by