The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (December 1890)

66 A Light Folding Tent, By Axbrew C. COoLe. ON looking over some of the back numbers of this Journal, I observe severa) parties have been giving particulars of how they extemporized dark rooms. Most of my negatives and lantern trarfsparencies have been developed in the evenings, and I have used my dining room for the purpose, merely turning out the gas and placing a ruby lamp upon the table. This answered capitally so long as the work was carried on alter dark; but I have. for daylight purposes, constructed a compact folding tent. This | find particularly handy for purposes of re-charging my hand camera, and inthe hope that it may be of benefit to my fellow workers I give particulars, so that anyone with a little mechanical skill may be enabled to make One at small cost. Procure twenty-eight running feet of planed deal, tkin. < Jin.,and saw it up in lengths of the following sizes :—lwo pieces 24in. long; two Pieces 22In. long ; two pieces 20in. long ; eleven pieces 18in. long. With the aid of glue anda few small nails make four’frames of the following dimensions, allowing the corners to overlap, thickness, so as to make ‘the pieces lie flush :—24in. * by 18in., 22in. x 48in., 20in. X18, 18in. * 18in. There will still be one 1Sin. length®left ; this should be secured across the centre of the largest frame. With screws fasten a piece of wood, r8in. x 2in. x ain.,at say the right hand side edge frame at an angle slightly inclined towards the frame Now take the frame 2oin. the largest frame, leaving a distance of din. of one end of the lower frame exposed, and with small brass hinges connect them together. When this upper frame is raised on its hinges it will be found that its thickness will just fill up the gin. space that was left at the end of the lower frame. Next the 22in. x 18in. frame is in like manner hinged to the small zin. upright at end of the largest after cutting away one half of the | of the largest : * 18in., and lay it upon | The Optical Magio Lantern J ournal and Photographic Enlarger. frame, so that it may be folded over ; then in turn the smallest frame E is hinged to this. so that it can fold ‘under. Fig. 1 shows the framework open, and Fig. 2 closed. A couple of brass strips forming a hook can be secured from D and C to A, which will make the frame sufficiently rigid. So much for the frame; now for the covering. Mine is covered with a fabric sold at most photographic dealers, consisting of one thickness of ruby j coloured glazed lining, with a thickness of canary coloured twill on the outside. This I tacked round the bottom frame, commencing at the left hand side, and continued it up to the end of D, leaving just a little fulness at the hinge of B. After bringing the fabric over E and C, the end should be tacked at the part of A from which the other end started. After the piece for the back is cut ‘out it should be sewed to the edge of the material | which surrounds the frame. In like manner a loose | piece is secured to the front, but this should be so fashioned that the mouth may be tied around one’s waist, the head, shoulders, and arms being inside the tent. | The tent may be set on a table near a window, and will be found very handy for either developing or changing slides, and when not in use may be folded up in small compass, space being allowed between E. and C for the folding in of the loose fabric. , If the material is put on tolerably tight a small strip i fastened on C is quite sufficient to keep E in position. 10} Editorial Table. | FLasH Lamps, &c.—Price, Talbot and Company, ' Limited, Ludgate-hill, E.C., have introduced a con, venient form of flash lamp, the general appearance of ‘which is shown in the cut. The charge is ignited mn : by: pressing the india rubber ball, which causes ‘y the magnesium powder to \_ _g be blown up through the ——" centre of a spirit flame. The apparatus contains a quantity of magnesium » powder, a fresh charge in position by merely pushing a knob ' forward. | Wer have also received a catalogue from this firm, | and note that they have a large assortment of lantern apparatus and slides, including a set of Stanley’s expedition through Africa. We also noticed a novelty, applicable for Christmas parties. This is a magneto-electric top. The handle of the top serves as j an electrode, and a knob at the end of the metallic cord, by which the top is spun, forms the other. The | rotation of the top, during the attempts at spinning, causes an electric current, doubtless much to the surprise of the party trying to spin it. Tiik Enterprise Company, of 12, Priestley-road, Birmingham, have sent us one of each of their styles of clamps for holding lantern slides whilst binding. They are substantially made in brass. As they came only just before going to press, we shall give a description of them in next issue.