The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (November 1891)

164 The Opticsl Magio Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. Hand-Cameras for Obtaining Slides for the Lantern. He Facile (Fallowfield) . see March Ist, 1890. No.1 “Giah" ... 1. (Mawson & Son) .. 4. 5, May Ist, ,, » 2" Quadrant’... (W. H. Humphries & Co.) ,, June Ist, ,, » 3“ Eclipse” (J. F. Shew & Co.)... w. 4, July lst, ,, » 4“ Eureka” » (W.W. Rouch & Co.) ... 5, Aug. Ist, ,, in OL Key” .. (Platinotype Co.) ... ... 4, Sept. Ist, ,, » 8“ Optimus" (Perken, Son & Rayment) ,, Oct. Ist, ,, » 7 "The Griffin" — (Griffin & Sons, Limited) ,, Nov. Ist, ,, » S ‘The Swinden-Earp" Patent we we 4, Dec. Ist, 4, » 9 “Collins » (C. G. Collins) we yy Feb. Ist, 1891. » 10“ Kodak" (Eastman Co.) ... vs 4, Mar. Ist, ,, nd ‘ Guinea” (WalterGrifith) ... . 4, April st. ., » 12 Vanneck "2. (Watson & Sons)... veo May lst, yy vw 1S “Chadwicks” (W., T. Chadwick) ae ye June lst, ,, » Ub Bonanza” (R.& A. J. Mercer) ... 4, July Ast, ,, 1, 14 “ Repeater" (Cusworth) ast » Aug. Ist, 4, » 16‘ Marvel’... (Wilson & Son) ... 1, Sept. Ast, ,, » 1? '"Valmer" « (Valvot & Eamer) », Oct. Ist, ,, No. 18.—* THE OMNIGRAPH.” THe “ Omnigraph,” by Messrs. J. Lancaster and Son, cannot be included under the heading of a magazine camera, nor can it be considered as a camera having dark slides; it is provided with an excellent changingbox, capable of holding half-a-dozen quarter plates. This changing-box sets into a well in the rear of camera-box, and is provided with three double metallic carriers, which are rims withan opaque division ; they hinge open for the reception of two sensitive plates, these are placed back to back, the opaque division of the carrier separating them. _ Each carrier, after being charged, is secured by a simple and efficient fastening, and placed inside of the changing back. This is not unlike an ordinary thick dark slide. It is provided with two draw slides, one being black and the other fawn colour, so that the different sides may be readily distinguished. To expose and change the six plates, the changingbox is placed in the camera, with the fawn-coloured side next the lens ; this slide is then withdrawn, and the camera held lens lowermost, when one of the carriers will fall into position in the camera. A knob is then pushed along a slot, which causes a roller blind to close between the changing-box and the plate which is now in the camera. In the meantime the light-coloured slide has been replaced, thereby shutting up the changing-box, which has merely to be withdrawn and inserted with the black side toward the lens, when the roller shutter is raised, the black slide pulled out, the camera tipped up, and the exposed plate thus removed from the focal plane. In like manner the six plates are changed and exposed It should be remembered that when “ feeding” into the camera it must always be done from the fawncoloured side, and changed back again by the black side. In this way the six plates are presented in succession, first the three whose faces are lying towards the light side, then those which were lying towards the black slide, for each carrier is turned around in the process of changing. j The lens is single achromatic, and is provided with a shutter opening from the centre, which is termed the see-saw shutter. The accompanying cut will show its form. With it, itis possible to make either instantaneous or time exposures. The camera is made in various materials according to prices, which range from 21s. to 25s. They measure 6x 53x 4in.,and weigh about 150z. or 160z. Extra changing-boxes, each to hold six plates, can be obtained. The changing of the plates is a very simple and short operation, full knowledge of which can be acquired with one or at most a couple of changes. 20: Our Visits. “No. lL—CHATHAM PEXTON. FOR some time past it has been our intention to give our readers a few particulars of an occasional visit to some of the firms connected with the lantern business; and with this end in view, we called upon Mr. Chatham Pexton, who had invited us to inspect his new additional premises, which are situated at the corner of Gray’s Inn-road and Holborn, London. Although the entrance is actually in Gray’s Inn-road, it is known as 150, Holborn. After mounting a flight of stairs, we found ourselves inside a main door which encloses the suite of rooms constituting the first floor. Almost immediately on entering we find Mr. Pexton and some members of his staff hard at work. In course of conversation we inquired how it was that Mr. Pexton had come to embark in the business of slide painting, lanterns, &c. We gathered that, though originally intended for the Church, he did not feel that he had a caé/in that line, so he decided upon, and spent some years in the law. Being tired of the dull monotony of the legal profession, he determined to travel, and eventually joined a theatrical company, and for twelve months appeared successfully on the stage. Many were the anecdotes and adventures he related to us. After a time he became home:sick, and decided to return once more to the parental roof, and after an absence of two years and a-half was welcomed back. Being naturally of an artistic turn, he devoted considerable time to painting, which eventually took the form of painting on glass, and so the foundation of the present large business was laid. Mr. Pexton certainly possesses great ability as a painter, and during our stay he operated on several pictures and showed us the various styles and qualities of colouring. He divided one slide into four sections, and painted each part a different way ; thus giving us a good idea of how slides could be treated according to the prices paid for them. The cheap slides sold, he said, in no way affected the sale of the best work, for