The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (February 1892)

26 has never been even covered over to keep it from the frost. My jet was not even packed, and all went well, as I can prove by any number of persons whd have seen it work. This I think shoull give confidence to those who have saturators. [tis my opinion that much trouble is given on account of the performers being afraid of the article they are using. Just fancy a man going to shoot rabbits when he is in shakes all the time for fear his gun should go off. most likely that at the last moment when he wants it to go, he has not the nerve to do the needful. Just so with the saturator—it wants common-sense using, and to do it you must keep cool, and then you can doit. Tnere is no fear of any serious results, even with an amateur lanternist, if he be careful. There is another thing that is not fully shown— that is, get the best ether you can buy. Mine cost three shillings per pint; but then I have only used two pints for fourteen nizhts, of two hours each night, thus the cost per hour was not quite threepence, and I had a light fully 360 cinlle-power. or more than double the safety-jet light. Hoping this will increase the number of saturator-users, 1 am yours truly, J. Tizomeson. P.S.—I have two flame-extinguishers, one on each side of my piping. 4, Somerset-terrace, West Hartlepool. PUBLIC LANTERNISTS SHOULD IIAVE A CERTIFICATE OF EFFICIENCY. [To the Editor. ] : Dear S1R,—On looking through the Lantern Journal, we notice there has been an explosion of gas in bags, at I]keston, and fail to understand how such athing could happen, except by fire getting inside the bags by a back pressure caused by the removing ofthe weights before having previously turned off the taps. The fact of the matter is, no accident can possibly take place except by carelessness. Great caution must always be observed, and one must thoroughly under ‘stand the using of the gas, and have no fear of it, and know that they are capable of mastering it in any event, it is just the same as trying to drive a locomotive engine without “understanding it, of course something unforseen and unaccountable may happen, but under ordinary circumstances, and when the necessary care is exercised, it is well nigh impossible for any accident to happen. We use bags every night regularly, and have for years. Only a few weeks ago, we sold a bag to us man who thought he would like to try a lantern (he had a cheap one) and on using the gas he had a grand “ blow-up,” and lost the bag, and everything else, and then wondered what was the inatter, and wanted to know if the bag was sound. Ofcourse it did not occur to him that his want of experience and knowledge was the only cause, and like all bad workmen, wanted to blame his instrument. A man has to be skilled in the use of a lantern, and know just what risks he takes and the consequence of an explosion, just as much as an engineer when undertaking to run a steamboat. It is a profession as much as anything else and Tequires experience. We think it should be compulsory for those who profess to work lanterns in public (when human life and limb is in danger by bunglers) to undergo an examination, and have a certificate as to their efficiency.—Yours truly, MILLAR BROTHERS. Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. 20: Notes and Queries. Safety writes that petroleum may be rendered nonexplosive by the addition of a small quantity of a mixture of bicarbonate of sodium with aniline, sulphate of lime, sulphate of magnesia, chloride of sodium, sal ammoniac and water. Geo, Porell states that, when using the lantern in a large hall during the fog, the thickness of the atmosphere prevented Tho Optioas’ Mazio Lantern Journal and Photosraphio Enlarger. It is | the pictures from being projected as well as formerly, and asks if there is any means of overcoming this. Answer.—You can bring the lantern closer to the screen, using a lens of shorter focus, if you wish to oblain the same size picture as when the lantern was at a greater distance off. FF, J.—It is quite safe. Swindled. —If the facts are as you state it is a matter for the law to deal with. Oi Lamp.—You will find it much more convenient to have the two lanterns placed side by side. Bi-unials with oil lamps have been made, but they are much more trouble than two separate lanterns. We would not recommend you to waste money in building a lantern of the description sent. Gauge writes: “In future I intend discarding my gauge, as I am afraid of them. There is some means of telling the contents of oxygen cylinder by weighing it: will you kindly explain it ? [am sure many besides myself would like to know. Itvply.—Weigh the cylinder as received before using the gas, say 15lb. goz. After using weigh it again, say 15lb. Nine ounces of gas will then have been used. Each ounce of gas represents 75 or ‘7 of a foot. If 9 is multiplied by -7, we have 6°3. or 6,45 feet of oxygen used. Deduct this from the quantity contained in the cylinder when full, anl the result will show the present contents. WW Bremner.—We are at all times ready to answer questions, but must draw the line at recommending one firm in preference to another. See our advertising pages. Get the index of Vol. I. (May, 1890, and Vol. II., Dec., r8gr), and you will find our opinion expressed upon the very subjects about which you write. Subseriber.—No. 1 (June, 1889), of this Journal is out of print ; Nos. 2and 3 are one shilling; the others are 13d. each, post tree. Conway.—In the following order—s, 7, 2, 3. Enlarger.—The series of articles by Mr. A. R. Dresser, (Hints on Enlarging), is contained in the issues of Nov., Dec., 1890; Jan., Feb., March, April, r8gr. M. Kircher.—No, 1 can always be relied upon, but the price may be a little high, and if those of Nos. 2 and 3 are picked, there is no reason why they should not be equally good. The better way is to arrange to try them before buying ; put in a slide containing printed matter all over: if this can be read as easily (when projected) at the corners as in the centre, that is everything. The mechanical arrangement of the Terpuoscope is excellent, and it can be used either with or without the curtain arrangement. Alfred Saunders writes : “ I have been experimenting with various lantern plates in the market, and fail to geta good black and white tone, combined with transparency. I have used both pyro and hydroquinone developers, yet cannot get so clear a picture as shown in the commercial slides. Fry's and Thomas's are the clearest, yet they do not come up to the standard. -4 sve. —If you give a longer exposure than you have been in the habit of giving, we think your difficulty will be overcome. A Subseriber.—We have asked Mr. Norton to communicate with you, and doubtless you have tried the limes by this time. We shall be pleased to hear that you have overcome the defect you mentioned. Perhaps your limes were rather : Soft, and thus pitted easily, causing the flame to setoff at an angle towards the condenser. Regulater writes: Can you tell me how to prevent a nasty clicking sound inside a Suiter’s Reliable Regulator ? So long as only one jet of bi-unial is used itis all right, but immediately the other jet is turned on, the click begins. Answer.—We heard ofa similar case, but have never experienced this annoyance ourselves ; it appears to be a defect in the adjustment of the valve rod tothe diaphragm. Better request the dealer from whom it was purchased to exchange it for another. J. G. Gibson,—We will make inquiries, and will let you know if we come across anyone willing to part with the number. ‘