The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (May 1896)

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. 89 which contains some good hints. Complete outfits and cameras of all styles are to be found in this list; also particulars of about two dozen hand cameras of their own and other makes. Archer's lenses and condensers, which are highly spoken of by users, are dwelt upon in detail. Lanterns, though a strong point with this firm, are not treated on very fully in this photographic catalogue, as they issue one more fully devoted to this subject at the commencement of each season. 20: Correspondence. IS THE LANTERN “PLAYED OUT?” To the Editor. Sin,It was a day or two after having a discussion with a friend upon this subject that I saw an announcement in a Saturday evening paper “ Where to go tomorrow. St. Mary-at-Hill Church, B.C. Evensong, illustrated by dissolving views.” Visions of men, with long noses, jumping clowns, kicking donkeys, etc., floated before my eyes, With a parson in the background delivering a sermon to an empty church, and full of wonder and bewilderment, I determined to pay a visit to the service. Arriving at the door about 6 pm.,I found a crowd of people waiting for the doors to open, and while I wondered at the sight of a crowd outside a church, the doors opened, and we were carried in by the crush behind. : Inside an orchestra was playing, a cornet solo, and a lady singing a sacred piece, adding to my bewilderment, but the crowning piece was yet to come. Presently the organ struck up, the brass and concertina bands, and tho orchestra followed suit, tbc processional hymn being thrown upon @ sheet suspended between two pillars in front of the altar. The service then followed, the whole of which was thrown upon the sheet. Picturcs: were then shown, iJlustrating the sermon which was to follow. After the sermon, the lights were lowered, and more sacred pictures were shown, while solo was exquisitely rendered by a lady. The service then concluding, I left, having spent a most enjoyable evening. I heartily recommend any pessimistic lanternist who feels that the lantern is losing in public favour to attend | one service, and see the crowds who flock to see the pictures, and hear the Rev. W. Carlile (founder of the Church Army) speak; it will simply act like a charm, and brace him up for the week's work more than anything else. OBSERVER. WHAT IS THE RATIONALE OF SLIDES CRACKING ? To the Editor. Dear Sir,—Could any reader give me an explanation of the following circumstance? I was exhibiting with a safety jet with hard limes, Riley's Prestantia ; I inserted a painted slide (carefully wiping it with wash leather before insertion), the slide was in the lantern about ten minutes, then it cracked, somctimes across and sometimes half-way (I had four slides cracked). The slides did not crack soon after I put them in, but after being in about ten minutes. The slides were net placed right against the condenser, but about 24 inches fromit. Why should they crack? If they had cracked soon after insertion, one would say it was the heat of the lantern. Yours truly, Lytham. R. B. PRICE TILTING OIL LAMPS. To the Editor. Dear Siz,—Your correspondent, the showman, in an article in April issue, must evidently have written some portion of it rather hastily. With regard to tilting, I can conveniently tilt my Patent Oil Lamp at an angle of 10 degrees without spilling the oil, and if the reservoir is made still deeper I could conveniontly tilt it 20 degrees ; the flames in either case have no inclination to strike ets te re} = =| s Ss} s I S| GB = os 8 . 40, 2 ~ z ~ c ~ ~ aa Plleg /2 ° ~~ ~ FLOOR OF LANTERN ~~ >> the glass plates. Showman’s idea of the gudgeons is decidedly wrong. Youwill see by rough sketch that if the lantern is tilted to an angle of 20 degrees the condenser cannot advantageously collect the light, not even if the lamp gudgeons are made to raise or lower. Why cannot users of oil lit lanterns use long focus objectives, providing suitable condensers are used, and the objectives are made sufficiently large to collect all the light? Yours truly, W. STOCKS. Rye, Sussex. ; ANCIENT WATER AND FLOUR MILLS. To the Editor. Daar Sir,—In your issue for April I notice an enquiry i by RK. Bennett as to the whereabouts of old wind flour mills. Iam pleased to say I can tell him of several. At Kast Retford, Notts, he will find two, one a four sail and the other a six sail mill; at Sutton, 3 miles distant, a four sail mill; at Clarcborough, a dilapidated post miil, 33 miles from Retford, on Clareborough Hill; at Tuxford, | 64 miles from Retford, two four sail mills; at Market Rasen, about 13 miles from Lincoln, he will find such an one as is very rarely seen now, viz., an eight sail mill it is just outside the station. There are several more four gail mills round about Retford, but they are all of the same type. Hoping these will be of use to him. I am. sir, yours truly, 278, Pitsmoor Road, T. KE. MORGAN, Sheffield. To the Editor. Dear Str,—Mr. R. Bennett asks for photos of mills, sce page 74, last issue of journal. I cau offer him three or four good negatives. Yours faithfully, Cc. W. LOCKE. 924, Tottenham Court-road, W.C.