The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (March 1895)

44 The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. Fig. XXIV. The illusion of the spirit form taking the hand of one of the performers, and, after raising him from the ground, gliding with him across the platform and depositing him on the other side, is puzzling, but simple. The whole secret lies in the fact that the luminous figure stands upon a small carriage about three feet in height, moving smoothly on four wheels with rubber tyres. On the side of this carriage next the audience is a step, on to which the performer gradually raises himself one foot at a time when being apparently lifted by tlie luminous figure. Once there, the whole affair is wheeled by an assistant right across the platform from one side to the another, and as the place is in darkness, and the actor is only visible to the audience on account of being in front of the luminous figure, none of these manipulations Fig. XXIV. can be seen, the general effect only being apparent. 30; The New Light, Incandescent Gas. By a Lanrernist. Wirnovr a doubt this illuminating power is much cheaper than any other form or method of lighting by combustion. It is now so well known that details of the burner may be somewhat old, but the following remarks may prove interesting, and I trust some may derive as much pleasure from the use of this light as myself. ; any foundation. It is of the greatest value for photographic purposes, the light being very white and very rich in blue rays. Having used same for over four years, in various forms, I can write with some little confidence that I have in it. The cost of the burner itself can be obtained from 8s. 6d., which has no bye-pass; those with the lever bye-pass, at 10s. 6d., are much preferred, whilst there is another with lever bye-pass and chains at lls. 6d. Those with the bye pass are always burning, the consumption of gas being about 34 feet an hour, and I should think that the bye-pass does not burn one farthing’s worth a day. The mantle after having been once burnt off, gives off absolutely no smell, or any products of combustion noticeable, very little heat, and from one burner at least 50 candle power. I can say up to the present, as a means of using ordinary gas for any photographic purposes, it is without a rival. An ordinary burner, giving a decent light, consumes 5 feet or 6 feet per hour, gives off any amount of noxious fumes and heat, and gives a light so weak and yellow as to be quite unsuited for the photographer's use. Even with an Argand burner one gets but a very poor light for all the intense heat and amount of gas consumed. One often hears the remark, ‘‘ Lantern slides made by reduction in the camera at night time. Why, they will not compare at all with slides produced by daylight.” Well, try it and see, and for the future such a remark will be without I am perfectly satisfied with the results I can obtain with it, either for reduction or enlarging, or copying, which by its means the light is always of the same power, and available when no other work can be done. The burner can easily be adapted to most ordinary arrangements for lamps or gas enlarging. All that has to be done is to fix the burner in the place of the lamp behind the condensor. As the incandescent mantle is very fragile, it is best to have the burner a fixture, but if moved about, care in carrying same is all that it is needed. For painting at night one can do colour work, that no one would have done unless without an electric light. If one finds that the ordinary glass chimney should crack, which they are liable to do, if exposed to draughts of cold, use a mica one instead, the reduction of light is very slight. I have omitted mentioning its use in connection with the lanterns for showing slides (transparencies) ; itis for a small disc, say 5 feet or7 feet, very decent, but for that purpose the light is too large in body; it wants to be more perfect, smaller in fact as that obtained from a lime.