The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (June 1897)

94 The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. Backed Plates.—In future ready backed plates are to be issued by the Paget Plate Company. The backing is orange collodion, which does not interfere with the viewing of the negative in ruby light at the time of development. We understand that the backed plates are to be sold without any advance in prices. > ~ ~ "Cycle and Camera.’’—This is the name of a new weekly which has been published, at one penny, by the Camera Publications, Limited, of 19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C. It is conducted by Messrs. Robert L. Jefferson and Walter D. Welford-—the former is . the well-known photo-cyclist, who has performed several sensational long distance tours in remote parts of the world. The latter is well-known in photographic circles, and is also a cyclist of note. High-class illustrations, chit-chat, and prize competitions are among the features set forth. * 7 te Crystal Palace Photographic Exhibition. —At the exhibition opened at the Crystal Palace last month, is to be found an interesting collection of historical apparatus and pictures in connection with the photographic art-science. The apparatus and collection of photographs have been collated by Mr. E. W. Foxlee, who has at very short notice been able to procure on loan from various parts of the country a good representative collection of early products. X-ray demonstrations, and projections of animated photographs are given daily, and a fine sample of colour photography is shown by means of Mr. Ives’ instrument, which is termed Kromskop. > ~~ baad The Best Artificial Light. — Professor Crookes has called attention to the fact that the best form of artificial light is one containing little or no ultra-violet rays, no excess of yellow rays, and just sufficient red light to communicate a warm, pleasant tone to objects around; that light which is more than normally rich in violet and ultra-violet rays is injurious to the eyes, contributing in time to a partial destruction of the fibres of the crystalline lens, and, when excessive, producing erythema and symptoms resembling those of sunstroke—workmen in electric light works, if frequently exposed to powerful arc lights, being affected in this way. It is not desirable, however, that the light should be too rich in yellow rays, as these temporarily destroy the erythrosin or photo-sensitive substance of the retina, producing great fatigue of the nerve. The Paris Fire. aa HE sad news of the late disastrous Va 2% fire at Paris where so many lives f Co iy Cf N were lost is known far and wide. RES |, \e = -, Its cause has been attributed to the SS optical lantern, and many theories ey) have been afloat, amongst them being gx” the bursting of a cylinder containing compressed gas, the explosion of a vessel containing ether, the celluloid film used in connection with the cinematograph, the falling over of a lamp, etc. From many enquiries instituted we learn on good authority that the cause was indeed connected with the lantern, which formed one of the attractions at the bazaar. An ether saturator of French manufacture was used in the lantern for displaying the cinematographs, and the film after it passed through the lantern was caught up in a basket placed beneath the front of the apparatus. From some unexplained cause the light seems to have suddenly gone out, and one report is that a match was immediately struck by some one standing near and applied to the jet, which at once again burned properly, but the match—that was said to have been thrown on the floor where it came in connection with some of the folds of film. Another report is that a leak of ether at the saturator blazed up and immediately communicated itself to the film. Proceedings have been instituted against the proprietor and the two operators of the cinematograph. On the 24th ult. when about twenty persons were viewing cinematographic pictures at a shop on the Boulevard Poissonniére, Paris, the focused heat from the illuminant set fire to the film and created a momentary scare which caused a panic, but no one was injured. Such mishaps only occur through carelessness. === A Novel Chronophotographic Camera. INCE the introduction of ribbon photography, by means of which Successive pictures are rapidly made of moving objects upon a long ribbon or strip of sensitised film, various devices have been invented, some complicated and others very simple, for the production of the pictures and the manipulation of the picture ribbon.