The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (November 1898)

172 the Eastman Kodak Company. The supposition that Mr. Goodwin might have a claim for past profits in the film business is nonsense, because a United States patent does not come into force until it is issued. As for Mr. Goodwin's ability to interfere in any way with the film business of the Eastman Kodak Company, we may explain that if Mr. Goodwin could make any film under his patent, which is extremely doubtful, it would be impossible for him to make it in such form as would be usable in the present, style of Kodaks without infringing the Daylight Cartridge patent of May 5th, 1895, owned by the Kodak Company. It will thus be seen that the issue of Mr. Goodwin's patent has not the smallest significance as regards either the American or English Eastman Kodak Companies. We trust that you will please give this explanation publicity in your valuable journal. We are, dear Sir, ‘ Your obedient servants, THE Eastman Kopak Company. GEO. EASTMAN, Treasurer and General Manager. RAILWAY LAWS AND GAS CYLINDERS. To Mr. J. Hay Taylor, Editor. Dear Sir,—The moat serious blow lanternists have ever had will be the new railway regulations for carrying compressed gas, which you notify in the September Journal. Tf it becomes railway law limelight work is doomed, for no sane man will run the risk of a £5 fine and all the accompanying penalties. Railway officials will be the last to give their consent to cylinders being on the station premises, as I know by bitter experience that they hate the very sight of a cylinder. Then supposing I got the consent of an official to take & cylinder in—say at Hereford, and I was going to Gloucester—what guarantee have I that the officials at Gloucester won't ‘run me in ” for having @ cylinder on the station premises there ? In the last two years I (a private lecturer only) have paid over £13 in carriage of cylinders with me by passenger train. I have never sought to scamp payment by smuggling them through in parcels, boxes, etc., but I have honestly paid before starting what I consider an exorbitant rate for their carriage. In addition to this, every time I have signed a blue paper (on the G.W.R. I travel) agreeing to take all risk of transmission. Surely this was enough. Now we are to be challenged to bring them near the premises, whilst forsooth all the great companies have what is practically a cylinder of compressed gas under every carriage to light it up by; and at the station in the town I live there are two huge cylinders (20 feet long) of this gas in a state of compression kept permanently on the line at the station— enough to blow the town up. We cannot go back to the old gas-bags, oil is useless for & good lanternist, and if this absurd bye-law comes into force many like myself will, I take it, reluctantly have to forego what has been a pleasant and instructive hobby for many years, and one that has brought much grist to the mill of voluntary institutions, church organisations, etc., etc. Cannot we, as lanternists, make some kind of combined attempt to avert the catastrophe ? I have several engagements booked, but how shall I be certain I can fulfil them ? : Yours faithfully, “ DISGUSTED." The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. 4 j Détes and Queries. 9 T. M. writes:—I have two rectilinear lenses, one a -plate and the other a }-plate size. Are these suitable for use in 8 magic lantern, and if so which one would be the best adapted for the purpose?4zs.—-The 3-plate lens will be the better one to use. Amateur.—To photograph an interior of the description you name, it will be necessary to get a wide angle lens possessing very short focus. . H. Hildyard asks the name of the firm which makes a dissolving tap fora double lantern after the following style :—There are four nozzles all in line to which the rubber tubes are connected to the jets; behind these are two taps with a rod connecting the tap levers, and behind this are two nozzles to which to attach the tubing from the oxygen and hydrogen supplies. Ans.—From the description we infer that you must refer to a dissolving tap made some years ago by Messrs. E. G. Wood, of Cheapside, London. They may make it still, as it was very satisfactory to use, Satyros.—Your communication, ‘‘ A Word as to Saturators,’ to hand, but it is impossible to make room for it this month, but it will appear in next. Projector—We cannot insert your letter with nom de plume, if we did in all probability the party would take action against us for damages. We note that you express a desire that your name should not appear. The best we can do in the meantime is to see if there are other complaints of a similar nature, but you are not obliged to deal with the advertiser, and as you have not sent any Money, we cannot see that so far any fraud has taken lace. . ‘. Naismith.—We think it would be more satisfactory to make application to the company in which the hall is insured, as it is just possible that they may have churged a premium to cover all such risks as you mention. Bi-unial.—Yes. H. Mathieson.—Saturators require drying occasionally so as to get rid of the watery matter left with some ethers. This is probably what is the matter with yours. Open the taps and set it upon a gas or spirit flame for a short time, or if more convenient piace in a heated oven. C. Francis Jenkins.—We cannot review a book from the list of contents which you send, but judging from this alone we should think it was very good. If you forward the book it shall have our attention. A. B. Coleman.—(1) For limes, see advertisements in ' this Journal. (2) Six inch condensers are preferable for general purposes, but as you are only working on a small scale why not use your ordinary lantern first, removing the front and also one-half of the condenser? This will fill all your requirements. (3) No book is published on the subject.about which you inquire ; in fact, everything that can be said in connection with it would be practically a few lines. W. Lightfoot.—We sent copy, as requested, to the Chief Clerk, Liverpool Detective Department. . I. 0. H.—Write for particulars to the Abingdon Acetylene Dluminating Company, 97, Great Hampton Stteet, Birmingham. A. S.—About an hour. Photaja.—(1) Xylonite Company, 3, Fore Street Avenue, London, E.C. (2) Kaleidoscope in next.