The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (July 1899)

86 The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. small space in the frame below the edge of the rising glass. As the lever moves this glass, the concertina paper extends and entirely fills the space which would otherwise be left blank. Such a story as Baron Munchausen forms a capital foundation for a dissolving view entertainment, especially with regard to mechanical and other effects, and the whole tale being a burlesque, admits of humorous treatment in the designs of the pictures. These opportunities were thoroughly taken advantage of when the entertainment was produced at the late Royal Polytechnic Institution, and those who were in the habit of frequenting that exhibition will no doubt remember the’ very fine series of views, and the remarkable number of effects by which it was illustrated, and which, it may be remarked in passing, now form part of the collection in the possession of the writer. "Now there are only two movements to this slide, one being a long slip upon which is painted the body of the lion. The other shows. us how a large lever motion can easily be fitted up when required without the need of a brass rim. The object of the lever motion is to work the Baron’s sword-arm and cause the sword to descend through the lion’s neck, and the means by which this is accomplished will be seen in the illustration. The shaped glass in the centre fits into hollows cut in the top and bottom battens of the frame, but on its right side a portion of the glass plate projects, making it almost heart shaped. On this projection are fastened two semicircular pieces of hard wood, leaving just sufficient space between them for the pin on the end of the lever, seen on the right, to work. The screw through this lever being the pivot upon which it works, it will be seen that when this lever is depressed at its extreme right end, the glass would revolve for a small portion of its circumference, and the Baron’s arm, which is painted on it, would move also, causing the sword to descend and decapitating the lion, after which the animal’s body makes off, AWN iv KK ‘\ \ Fig. XXVIII. A short reference to another of these pictures may be of special interest to amateur slide makers as showing how mechanical motions may be made—by exercising a little ingenuity—of inexpensive materials and with little trouble. We find the Baron on the banks of the Nile, where he is in an extremely painful position, as he‘is standing on the margin of the mystic river faced by a large and. businesslike looking crocodile, while at bis back a ferocious lion is roaring, evidently under the impression that “feeding time” is fast approaching. When the cue is given, this picture is. suddenly changed to the one represented in our diagram, Fig. XX VIII., where we see that the lion, in his bound, has missed his mark and jumped partly down the throat of the crocodile. The Baron, being a man of decision, promptly cuts off the lion’s head, and the body runs off leaving it in the-crocodile’s mouth. leaving the head in the crocodile’s mouth. Lantern Mnemonics. By JACK-O’-LANTERN. No. I. ee N the memory notes that appeared in hy the May Journal, the giant telescope’ was mentioned. Further 7» information respecting this world’s ) wonder is cropping up daily, and Z*7) must be interesting to all classes of an lanternists. A huge optical theatre, ‘ with a seating capacity of about 6,000 persons, is being constructed at Paris. At one end a permanent screen will be erected, 75 feet square, upon which, with the aid of the lantern, the powers of the telescope will be shown in projection. We are promised the moon 50 to 60 feet in diameter, Mars and other planets 12