The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (April 1895)

56 from 15 to 50 per cent, are to be made on | certain lanterns and kindred apparatus supplied by the well-known firm of Messrs. D. W. Noakes & Son, of Greenwich. This reduction is preparatory to the retirement from the firm of Mr. C. W. Locke, the partnership of which will be dissolved on or about the date of the termination of the reductions in prices mentioned. * * * AccorpDing to Science Siftings, the most curious optical invention is the erecting prism. The writer says :-— “In my opinion the most peculiar thing of this sort is what is called the ‘erecting prism’ —an appliance often used in connection with the optical lantern, when it is desired to project the image of any object without inverting it. The prism is also made use of in photography | so as to interchange the right and left-hand sides of the photographed image —a thing necessary to be done in connection with certain methods of photographic printing. The erecting prism has this queer characteristic: when it is looked through, and, at the same time, turned round, it causes any object to (apparently) rotate with double its own speed of turning. then, we look through this prism at the rotating sails of a windmill, and, at the same time, turn | the prism at a suitable rate of speed, we can make the moving sails (apparently) stand still. Again, any oscillating body, such as the beam | of an engine, can be made (visually) motionless by the aid of this curious prism.” —_:0:—_ CaMERA CLUB PHOTOGRAPHIC CONFERENCE, 1695.— | The 1895 conference will be held at the Camera Club, | Charing Cross Road, on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 2nd and 8rd, under the presidency of Captain W. de W. Abney, C.B., R E., D.C.L., F.R.S., P.R.A.S. On Tuesday, April 2nd, at 4 p.m., the president will open the conference at the club, and papers will be read from 4 to 6 p.m. At & p.m. the conference will be continued, and papers will be read from 8 to 10 p.m. On Wednesday, April 8rd, at 4 p.m., the conference will be renewed, and papers will be read from 4 to6 p.m. At 6 p.m. the conference will be continued, and papers will be read from 8 to 10 p.m. On Thursday, April 4th, at 7.30 p.m., the annual dinner for members and friends will be held. On Monday, April Sth, a lantern slide exhibition will be given at the Society of Arts (by kind permission of the council), and for this special tickets will be required. The members annual exhibition of photographs will be commenced at the club on the first day of the conference. A complete programme will be issued later and distributed. Visitors are cordially invited to take part in the discussions. Tickets of admission may be obtained through any member of the Club, or on written application to the Secretary. ' mutilated that portions were found The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. Bursting of an Oxygen Cylinder. On the 15th ult., a sad and serious explosion occurred at the Fenchurch Street Railway Station, London, about half past two o’clock in the afternoon. It appears that a doctor in Plaistow, being about to amuse his children in the evening with an exhibition of lantern slides, sent his gardener to town in order to get the necessary slides, and also a small cylinder of compressed oxygen. Having procured these, the messenger went to Fenchurch Street Station, and placed his goods on a seat to await the arrival of his train. Without warning, a deafening report occurred, which in addition to breaking lamps, damaged the large clock in the i On investigation it was found that the messenger had been killed, and his body so some Fortunately, the sad accident ‘ occurred at a time of day when the platforms are practically deserted, for had it occurred a . few hours later when they are crowded with distance. distance off. city folks, homeward bound, the results would doubtless have been beyond description. As most of our readers know, these cylinders which are made of steel and then annealed, are charged with gas to the extent of 120 atmospheres, or about 1,800 pounds to the square inch. It appears that hitherto the Board of Trade has had no power to make regulations in connection with the strength of cylinders, and the pressure to which they shall be” charged. Although every care is exercised by compressers of gas as to the testing of cylinders, the question arises, would it not be conducive to restoring confidence if the same test (about two tons to the square inch) were maintained, then only charged to one half, or even three fourths of what they at present are. We should soon get used to looking upon what is now a 20 ,ft.