The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (June 1892)

79 drivers, and a hat-peg that forms an excellent pair of nut-crackers. The unfortunate feature about most combination articles is that while professing to answer a variety of purposes, they only do so to a limited extent, and remind one of the workman who is Jack of all trades and master of none. No such objection, however, can be urged against the joint working of the ‘Jantern and the stereoscope: the pictures are identical in size, the same quality of negative is required in both cases, and the printing process which will give a good transparency for the one instrument will give an equally good one for the other. One great advantage in connection with stereoscopic work is that it entails little, if any, additional expense upon the possessor of ordinary photographic apparatus, although to produce many of the most interesting pictures a pair of accurately-matched lenses is an absolute necessity. Nevertheless, the lanternist, who can often only boast of a quarter-plate camera, can, if he will confine himself to architecture, landscape without figures, and still life generally, make a collection of stereoscopic slides quite undistinguishable from those taken in the more usual manner—z-e., with a binocular camera. The only addition required to the outfit will be a strip of wood say ten or twelve inches long, which can be attached to the tripod head by the ordinary camera screw, so as to forma little table, provided with a slotted hole at each end, and a thin strip of wood or other stop to ensure the camera being correctly adjusted for the two exposures which are required: The procedure is now simple; the operator has only to adjust his camera at one end of the table, and to take his negative in the ordinary way—unscrew the camera and fix it at the other end, and repeat the operation. The result will be a pair of negatives, either of which will answer for printing lantern transparencies from, while the two in conjunction are equally available for making stereoscopic slides on glass or paper. The owner of a half-plate camera has only to place a flexible division so as to divide the interior of the camera into two parts longitudinally, and if the camera is not already fitted with one, to adapt a sliding front permitting such an amount of movement as will allow the lens to be brought exactly opposite the centre of each half of the plate in succession. This system is distinctly in advance of that described above, but still limits the worker in his choice of subjects, as even with the most expert operators several ‘seconds must be occupied in altering the position of the lens for the second exposure. When moving objects have to be dealt with a Tho Optioal Magio Lantern Journal and Photographic Halarger. matched pair of lenses becomes indispensable. They can be fitted to any camera of the halfplate or larger size, the central partition is necessary, and the lenses should if possible be mounted so as to allow them to be separated, more or less, according to the exigencies of any particular case. It must not be supposed, that a matched pair of lenses is necessarily expensive; some of the most successful pictures the writer has ever taken being made with a pair of single lenses fitted with revolving diaphragms, and costing only ros. 6d. each, retail. Presuming that the reader is already au fact in lantern transparency making, it is not necessary to give any details of the process Of stereoslide making, as it is practically the same, the only difference being that the stereoscopic slide should be soft and full of detail, while it is at the same time brilliant. Hardness and chalkiness are much more noticeable in the stereoscope than in the lantern. It is impossible within the limits of a short article to give working details and measurements, the idea being only to suggest stereoscopic work to the many photographers who have been deterred from attempting it by the fear that it necessitated an elaborate outfit and preparations. 0: A PRIZE —— Of a Mahogany Lantern will be given for the best Set of Lantern Slides (Photographs or Sketches), as stated in last issue, to illustrate the following Narrative. All Slides must be sent tothe Editor on or before Sept. 12. The Punishments of Sunday Travelling, By J. Hupert (HacKNEY), AUTHOR OF “THE ART OF RE-TOUCHING,” &c. ae Tam a young married man from the country, not used to London ways and to warn my fellow-creatures who may visit this great Metropolis against Sunday experiences, have written the following narrative. IT was in the summer of 1890, on an alternately hot and cold afternoon, such as we have grown accustomed to during that memorable season, when heavy overcoats and fur jackets mingled with sunshades and umbrellas, when my wife and I solemnly determined at all hazards to procure some variation in the monotony of Sunday life in this vast Metropolis. My dearly beloved accordingly left me still perusing the ‘‘ Pilgrim's Progress,” whilst she went up-stairs to look after her toilet. Dozing off and dreaming that the angels were getting dangerously high on Jacob's ladder, I was suddenly roused, fancying I heard the sweet sound of my Maria’s voice. It was reality—the dear creature called out to me to make haste and don my new cape coat, which was deemed indispensible to uphold the dignity of the family, put the latch-key, ham and eggs, bread and butter, and such other small articles‘as contribute to the enjoyment of mortal man, into my several coat pockete—which already bulged