The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (December 1895)

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. works of the year, and it certainly is all that is claimed for it. The reproduction of the photographs —beg pardon, in this instance we should have said photograms—is carried out in an excellent manner, whilst the printing of same is quite a work of art. The literary matter is good and easy reading, the paper on which it is printed is of high class, and when one learns that all this can be procured in paper covers for 1s., or cloth for 2s., they will doubtless be anxious to at once send the necessary remittance to the publishers, Dawbarn & Ward, Ltd., of Farringdonavenue, F.C. TyLaR'S SPECIALITIES.—Mr. Tylar, of Birmingham, has sent us a bottle of his silver ink, which is useful for putting titles on dark mounts or photographic prints; also a fine celluloid negative of a border for use when making photographic prints as Christmas souvenirs. Also a supply of what he terms profanity preventers, these consist of strong binders for lantern slides, about the adhesive qualities of which there is no doubt. SLIDE ExcuanGcEe.—Mr. J. Boyle, jun., 263, Preston New Road, Blackburn, has sent us a set of rules pertaining to a Lantern Slide Exchange Club, of which he is the Hon. Sec. The annual subscription is 23. 6d., entrance fee 1s., and the total membership is to be thirty. There are, we learn, a few vacancies at present. 20: Correspondence. SQUARE LIMES. To the Editor. DgaR S1k,—Mr. Scrimgeour, in your November issue, is Wanting & square lime to avoid the flame of the jet curling round the lime, Why should he wait for a square lime? Tom's groove disc limes will meet his requirements. We have been using them for some time in all kinds of halls, large or small, and even at so difficult 4 place as Highbury Quadrant, where we used them for the Literary Society’s lectures, we have found them work well, and they cannot drop even if they ara cracked all over. In fact, we have never had to change a lime during an exhibition. We are, yours faithfully, HENRY W. NETTLESHIP anp HAROLD ROSE, Authors of ‘ Prison Life,’ ‘ Oliver Cromwell,’’ etc. November, 18th, 1895. ——— OIL LIGHTS. To the Editor. Srg,—As you are interested in common with a great majority of your readers on the subject of oil lighting for magic lanterns, would you please explain the following. I see by your columns that the most powerful tested oil lamp is 109 candle-power. The enclosed cutting I have just received from America says that the Millar patent lamp gives 300 candle-power. { will suppose for argument’s sake that we discount that one-third ; we still have 200 candle-power—over double the power of any that we read about. Why, Sir, cannot a patent such as the above be used in magic lanterns? Granted that you would require to have a larger lantern body and tank, thie could be got over by a little extra cost. This would be as nothing compared to the great benefit conferred on those who use oil in places where it is impossible to get the limelight. I cannot help the thought, Sir, that oil 219 lamps have not kept pace with the lanterns, and that as different lamps constructed on the central draft principal could be invented that would give far more satisfactory results. This subject is of very grave importance to many professionals and amateurs in New Zealand, and judging from the great number of oil lanterns that are annually made in England, would be of great importance to many at home. Personally, I am prepared to pay handsomely for any oil lamp that will give over 200 tested candle-power. I would ask, Sir, for your powerful assistance in this important subject, and I hope those who have had a lifelong experience ia lantern making and lighting will give us in your columns the benefit of their experience, I remain, yours, etc., W.H. MATHIESON. Invercargill, New Zealand. LANTERN CLUB AT FOREST GATE. To the Editor. Dear Srr,—Being desirous of forming a kind of Lantern Club in this neighbourhood, for the purpose of giving lantern exhibitions for the benefit of charitable institutions, etc., I should be glad to hear from any of your readers who may approve of same, and would be willing to join with me in forming such a club. Yours truly, S. L. WILTON. Longmoor Villa, 158, Romford Road, Forest Gate, E. SELF-LIGHTING JETS. To the Editor. Dear Srr,—In the November number "' A Lanternist " describes the method of making a self-lighting gas jet. I should like to ask whether the jet referred to is not the same as Duke’s patent eelf-lighting gas burner, which is now being sold by the Duke Patents Company, of which I enclose a prospectus. The drawing given on page 177 of your Journal is precisely like the burner of which I have several in use in my house. If the burners are identical, while I suppose it would be legal for a person to make one for his own u3e, he might get into serious trouble if he sold one, I should like, therefore, to put your readers on their guard. My own experience of the burner is not altogether satisfactory, its efficiency depends almost entirely on the small piece of platinum wire being in its exact place. I have found it very liable to get bent or shifted, and then it does not get sufficiently hot to light the gas. And now, Mr. Editor, I am sorry to find from two paragraphs in your ‘‘ Notes and Queries ”’ that the Lantern Society has incurred your displeasure, and I am the more concerned because I cannot promise amendment in the matter with which you find fault. One. of the objects of the Lantern Society is to bring before its members any improvements in the manufacture of lanterns and apparatus and the Council considered it would be a suitable way to open the new session with such an exhibition. They therefore invited the principal makers to send anything new they might have to bring forward. No doubt it would be to the advantage of all lantern makers if they became members of the Society, but the Council are not so illiberal as to exclude non-members from exhibiting. Indeed, Mr. Editor, unless my memory plays me very false, a good deal of the apparatus you have been kind enough to show us at various times has not been made by members. I may add that we have received expressions of appreciation from many of the | members who were present on October 14th, and I