The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (July 1893)

98 The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. Mr. E. Irenanp, of 25, Lower Mosely Street, Manchester, has constructed a new studio, which he allows amateurs to have the use of for a shilling per half hour; two half-plates and developer being supplied free for use in the studio. THose of our readers wishing to take up shares in the Central Photo Club Company, Limited, should communicate with Mr. GC. H. Oakden, 51, Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich. It is the intention to issue 200 shares of £5 each. £2 10s. on application and the balance at 21 days’ call. THe Lantern Stereoscope, described in our journals of August and September, 1892, will be issued to the public this coming season. During its recent exhibition at the Royal Society, this instrument was highly and favourably commented upon. * * * A NEw and ingenious method of adjusting and centering lantern jets is to be introduced by Messrs. J. H. Steward, this coming season. We hope shortly to give a description of this apparatus, which is the invention of Mr. J. H. Barton, of Manchester. THOsE who use the Optimns lenses of Messrs. Perkin, Son and Rayment, have an opportunity of winning some handsome prizes. This firm have, lately inaugurated a 100-guinea compeétition. The prizes are divided into nine classes— Landscape, Seascape, Figures, Portraiture, Instantaneous Views, Architecture, Enlargements, Stereoscopic Views and Lantern Slides. All prints and entry forms must be sent to the firm mentioned by December 3ist, 1893. ** * * Tue Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers have erected a stand at the National Workmen’s Exhibition, Agricultural Hall, N., and intend offering three prizes of five, three, and two guineas, for the best exhibits in connection with spectacles, by British workmen. CaprTr and Nrauy, in June “ Dry Plates,” remark— In accordance with the promise made in the last number of our magazine, we have made a series of experiments to determine the alteration in speed due to using our developing formule instead of the standard formula for speed testing. The result is that the speed numbers should be multiplied by Two with our developer at 65° F. It may be asked why we do not give speed rumbers with our own developer. This would not leave our numbers comparable with those of other makers using the Hurter and Driffield system, we therefore use the formula up to the present used by two makers for this testing purpose. Our Minimum Lightning Speed is now fixed at 80° H.& D.= 160° if our developers are used.” THE wedding of Mr. Snowden Ward (Practical Photographer) and Miss Weed-Barnes (American Amateur Photographer), is to take place at Albany, N.Y., U.S.A., on 15th inst. Mr. Ward leaves Liverpool to-day by the S.S. “ Alaska,” with the best wishes of a host of friends. —0:—= Limelight for Portraiture. Mosr people who take part in tablenuz virants, or fancy dress balls, are desirous of having their portraits taken when dressed ‘in all their war paint,” but for them to proceed, say the following day, to a photo studio, and to dress or undress as the case may be in order to have their portraits taken by daylight deters many from troubling further about the matter, thus causing photographers to lose business which might have been obtained under different circumstances. Mr. C. Goodwin Norton lately gave a paper and demonstration before the Brixton Camera Club, to show by what means the photographer could add to his business and income by being on the spot with a portable apparatus which would supply the necessary illumination whereby the subject could be photographed—say between dances, &c., on the evening of festivity. Mr. Norton had from experience found the flash light unsatisfactory in many respects, and had known it to be forbidden at certain private houses, because the smoke was liable to injure the furniture. The electric light when properly controlled was the best, but unfortunately the electric current is not universally laid on. He asserted that the limelight was particularly adapted for this purpose, as it could be quickly rigged up, gave off no smoke, and little heat, it did not startle the sitter, and could be worked at small cost. By using a system of condensers he said that the shadows cast were hard, and that no method of counter reflectors would balance them. A good arrangement was to have nine blow through jets either in a row or in a cluster (a la skittles). Mixed jets had been tried, but it was found that | they did not give such good effects as the blowthrough, the latter giving a more diffused light over a large surface. An apparatus which was very satisfactory was an adaptation of the tray stem and jet arrange