The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (May 1898)

72 We consider that Mr. Bellingham is to be congratulated on his discovery, for by means of a bath as stated above another element of danger with regard to cinematographic projection is removed. ~N the 6th April the inhabitants of . Worthing were suddenly startled by the report of a cannon, which meant, to those “‘ not in the know,” a ship in distress. Consequently crowds gathered quickly on the sea front, hastening westwards along the Marine Parade as far as the flagstaff opposite the coastguard station, where thelifeboat was ominously emerging from its shelter. Great excitement prevailed; four horses were connected, the crew donning their coats of cork and mounting with all speed their pet life-saving apparatus—one of the many monuments of England’s beneficence. Soon the command was given, ‘‘ Let her go!” On this occasion, however, that command had a double meaning, and many in the crowd were greatly puzzled as to the meaning of all they saw. Close to the esplanade stood a horse with a heavy cart behind it, laden with what connoisseurs called electric batteries, which sent their mysterious powers through a red double cord up toa huge camera mounted on a rigid iron tripod, and inside of this instrument there was a reel holding a sensitised film about 200 feet long. This, too, was “let go,” to run its entire length down behind a lens, recording many impressions per second of the interesting procession rushing by towards the scene of action. This big camera was the ‘‘ Mutograph,” of the Mutoscope and Biograph Syndicate, Ltd., of London. The instrument is the invention of Mr. Herman Casler, and was brought here and manipulated by Mr. Wm. K. Laurie Dickson, Elec. Eng. Technician to the American Mutoscope Co. (with Edison, 1881—1895). As soon as the first performance was completed, the whole machinery was erected on the pier to take the launching and departure of the lifeboat. When this had been accomplished the mutograph was loaded for the third time to photograph also the landing of the Worthing gallant .corky crew. For this event the spectators had to wait nearly two hours, during which time many of them dispersed. As the boat was The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. | breakers, Mr. nearing the shore and surmounting the last few Dickson shouted once more, ‘‘Let her go!’ When the lifeboat struck the beach many rushed forward to assist in pulling her up, while some of the crew jumped hastily out of the boat into the foaming waves, and quick as lightning, yet most carefully, laid upon the sand the body of a man drowned (?) for the purpose of pleasing sightseers and in the interests of science. Medical aid was, however, at hand, and by means of proper restoratives and a most scientific manipulation of the breathing apparatus, the drowned mariner was soon able to return to his home and friends. And thus ended the noble work of life-saving and animated photography. There was an ordinary camera in the outfit, of which Mr. A. R. Schutz, the author of ‘* Celestial Symphony” and other well-known astronomical works, had charge, taking many snapshots of the various scenes presented. The sun was shining all the time, there was a good breeze blowing and plenty of sea—all very favourable circumstances, so that the pictures taken (about 4,000) ought to be very effective when finished and projected upon the screen. The following day (the 7th inst.) the Worthing Swimming Club played some games of waterpolo, etc., in the big baths at West Worthing, while the mutograph was again actively looking on and taking it all in. +, BS Sane Lumiere’s Acetone PyroDeveloper.—No. I]. (Continued from page 64). INFLUENCE OF THE QUANTITY OF SULPHITE AND THE QUANTITY OF ACETONE, Wc Y varying at the same time in the SIE aqueous solution containing 1 part ics pyrogallic acid, the quantities of AZ, sulphite and acetone by preserving Sie Os between these two reactives the Gr) proportion of 1 to 2, which seems the Fy most favourable—we have remarked that over 5 parts of sulphite for 10 parts acetone—it is not advisable to increase the relative proportion of these substances, because the negative, although becoming weaker, also ‘became more and more greyish and foggy. ; Other trials in which we chose the proportion | of 1 and 1, and 2 and 1 between the sulphite and the acetone, haye shown in proportion to