The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (February 1892)

16 The Lanternist’s Den.— No. 1. By C. E. REnpie. THE student of the optical lantern has without doubt a great many grooves of study open to! him. He should endeavour to be an accomplished photographer and artist, so that he may be able to embrace opportunities as they crop up of obtaining shots of anything of interest that crosses his every-day path. A great deal of pleasure is experienced in making one’s own slides for illustrating the summer holiday or the visit to friends in the country. Many of us are fond of trying our hands at painting the slides, and for this we require to be alone in our glory, that is, if circumstances will allow ; for nothing is more perplexing than, just as we may be adding to a picture the finishing touches, someone drops in and prevents the landscape from being finished at that sitting. It is also imperative to seek solitude when engaged upon the important task of arranging subjects for : lectures. The aspirant of to-day is not. satisfied by simply purchasing an instrument with its accessories, lighting up and passing his views through , he cannot claim to be efficient without some knowledge of construction, both theoretic and practical, and as the old adage “An ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory ” here applies, he should endeavour to givea little time now and then in this direction, for this is the true method 8 N RE ont A & B—Windows, H—Bookcase, C—Door, I—Lantern for Experiments. D—Work Bench, J—Screen a E & F—Dark Room and Sink, K—Lathe, G—Flat Desk, L—Shelves and Cupboards to overcome the little difficulties which are now and then springing up. In a word, those who can, should set apart one room—an attic will do, and proceed to fit it up with conveniences for storing apparatus, experimenting with it, and for altering or adding to its construction. Having got the room, let us consider the best manner of fitting it up, so that our lanterns, cameras, chemicals, tools, and other things may be constantly at hand, also the necessary tools to purchase. Wood for shelves will claim aur first atleation : Th? Optioal Magio Lantern Journal and Photographio Enlarger. ‘but the best place to put them up, each one must answer for himself. However, I give a plan of my den, and the relative positions of door, window, shelves, benches, &c., which may perhaps serve as a guide. Cover the floor with kamptulicon or similar material, which can easily be kept clean by washing ; carpet or matting of any kind harbours the dirt, and by their use dust often flies about when least wanted. . When the room has but one window, it can be fitted with a shutter, thus dispensing with the dark room in the corner if desired. Makea wellfitting frame, and hinge it to window on the inside, so that it can rest against the wall when not in use.” This is simple and effective, can be glazed with white giass and afterwards covered with ruby paper, which colour serves for both wet and dry processes. Other photographie arrangements speak for themselves, and I take it provision will be made for every requisite, a place found for everything, and everything found in its place. The bench at the left window serves a host of purposes, and is fitted with drawers for various tools and materials, two or three racks running along the back, with space for files and such like, while a small bench vice is securely fixed at one end. A convenient place for a jointed gasbracket will be between the windows or thereabouts, and J advise one with extra tap at bottom for jumping a rubber tube over. This is handy for the lantern, or attaching to jet for soldering purposes. A portable horizontal soldering burner can be bought for a few shillings, or a rough one can be knocked up good enough for our use in an hour. To do this, get a 12in. length of din. brass tube, cut into three, mitre and braze the two joints, so that when together it takes the form of the letter Z. Fit this to a stand, leaving about an inch of pipe overhanging for the rubber to be passed over. File the top of nozzle off to an angle same as a blow-through jet. Cost of materials about threepence. What is known as the ‘‘ Hydrostatic Soldering Lamp” I would recommend to those who will not countenance gas. Its cost is about 3s. 6d., and is extremely ingenious, burns benzoline, methylated spirits, or spirits of wine. The flame is easily regulated, and it is so constructed that if kept alight some hours, the spirit in the cylinder is quite cold. It has a lateral movement, to enable the worker to turn it away when done with. Such tools as hammers, a mallet or two, pliers, a few files of various cuts and sizes, a drill stock with drills, screw-plate and taps, and 8in. brass blow-pipe, and sundry others, should be picked up, as opportunity offers. They will all in their turn be found useful. (79 bc continued.)