The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (March 1892)

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. 29 only necessary to fit an ordinary photographic camera to the tube of the microscope so as to exclude all extraneous light, and to focus the object upon the ground glass screen in the same way as for projection. The milled head of the fine adjustment is deeply grooved, so that a silk or rubber band may be passed over it on to a similar wheel fixed on a long rod passing under the camera and terminating in a milled head close to the ground glass, so that the operator can secure the sharpest possible definition by applying an eye-piece to the focussing screen while using the fine adjustment. 10: Dissolving Views. By G. R. Baker. Ir is not all audiences that can be entertained by a large number of plain photographic slides being passed through an optical lantern, with but little, if any description of interest, and even when thc reading or lecture is of acharacter to ensure attention, I have noticed with what relief a large percentage of a mixed audience view artistically-coloured slides and “effects.” In the case of an entertainment where the latter predominate the whole matter centres on the perfection with which the illusions are performed. Dissolving views date back to the year 1846, when the late Mr. Childe, the artist, introduced them, after having been at work for five years, expending much time and money in experiments. The apparatus he used in public consisted of gin. condenser lanterns, fitted with sperm-oil lamps, having four concentric wicks, and one of the first,if not actually the first exhibition was given at the Adelphi Theatre, in a piece called the “Pearl of the Ocean.”” At first the dissolving effect was produced by manipulation of the hands over the nozzles of the lantern, then later by lowering the wick, and finally came the fans, so arranged as to open and close the lantern fronts. All arrangements for dissolving introduced since, carry out (more or less) the same principles as first adopted, the lowering of the light at the present day being considered the most perfect system when gas is employed ; whilst in the case of oil lamps being used, the fans are found to be most convenient. , It was not until De Phillipstall had the idea of blacking out figures, and projecting them on scenes that the ‘‘effect '' slides were introduced, and on his coming to England from Germany quite a sensation was caused, and he made a large sum of money by the exhibitions. These dissolving views and dioramic effects were continued in the good days of the old Polytechnic, when money was expended lavishly to accomplish many things new and effective. The necessary requirement in the way of apparatus to produce dissolving views is that the two or more lanterns shall be placed in such a way that the pictures from each of them superimpose on the screen. This is accomplished by angling the entire lantern, if placed side by side, or in the case of bi-unials or triples by adjusting each front separately In the case of the triple the central lantern front is kept horizontal and the top and bottom fronts angled. The disadvantage of side by side apparatus is that it is inconvenient for one operator to manipulate them, but it is the only form that permits of the paraffin or other oil lamp being used as the illuminant. The reason why (to my mind) dissolving views have been ridiculed in some quarters, is that the owner or user of the same has either not had artistic or well-arranged slides, or else has not taken the trouble to see that the pictures have been registered to each other and the lantern stages in which they had to be used. Ordinary commercial slides of fifteen years ago were very different from those of the present time. At that period the pictures were handdrawn, and, with the exception of slides issued by one or two firms of high standing, were mostly of the oud order. In those days it was usual at an entertainment for the operator to place the slide to be dissolved on in the lantern by guess work, and then to turn the light upa very little in order to dodge the slide into position to correspond with the one on screen, and then when all was right to turn the light up. But with modern adjustments the slide has merely to be placed it its stage and the light turned up, when everything will be found exactly in the required position on the screen. Photography at the present time is an assistance of great value in producing dissolving views, and the hand-drawn subjects must be produced with great care, for otherwise they will not bear criticism when shown by the limelight. There are many places accessible to the photographer where he can secure a pretty picture for summer and winter, and if he takes care to mark the exact spot (by making a rough map and indicating distance from prominent positions, so as to establish a cross section point where his camera will be placed next time) he can make his first picture say when the snow is on the ground, and go again in summer, or vce versa. In and about the London parks and suburban commons there are many pretty little bits of scenery suitable for this purpose, and as regards the country, plenty of choice. Weare