The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (August 1900)

102 associated with the lecturers appointed under the University Extension scheme, having for its object the placing within the reach of the humblest the highest class education attain| able. His services are also frequently requisitioned by public lecturers who visit the city, and he is often called upon at short notice to accept engagements to entertain distinguished gatherings in the city and elsewhere. He is a most entertaining host, and has a fund of good stories to recount, which he does as he alone can do it. Mr. Baker combines with his skill as an operator a pleasing personality, is possessed of a good clear voice combined with elocutionary powers of a marked degree, and also those general qualities which are essential to the successful operator. It may interest some who cherish similar convictions, and be suggestive to those who do not, to add that for 40 years Mr. Baker has been a total abstainer from all stimulants, in which principles his household have been trained and firmly remain. His testimony is that he has borne the fatigues of prolonged travel by road and rail not only without inconvenience, but, as his present hale and robust condition would indicate, to his positive advantage. Nor has he ever yielded to the fascination of the narcotic weed, deemed by so many a necessity to their happiness and comfort. In conclusion, we think enough has been said to justify us in placing Mr. Baker in the category of those who are known to our numerous readers as the prominent men in the lantern world. The photograph is a recent one, and is a truly admirable likeness. SGI iiss Which Acetylene Generator shall I Buy? By R. J. MOSS, Birmingham. OW that the longest day is past, and two of the Bank Holidays have been enjoyed, the thoughts of lanternists are no doubt wandering onwards to the coming season ; while some of the wiser ones will overhaul, repair, and re-arrange their outfit, so as to be quite ready for anything that may turn up, however early in the season. The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. Foremost among the points to be considered is the question of luminant. Some have found oxyhydrogen a great deal of trouble and too expensive generally for country work, while the oil lamp users find that their pictures seem very poor since the introduction of acetylene. Consequently, there is always quite a number of lanternists who are thinking about trying acetylene. The idea of danger, once so generally accepted, is now exploded, thanks to fuller knowledge and the introduction of improved apparatus; in fact, at the present time I do not know of a single generator that could fairly be classed as dangerous. The great problem which the lanternist about to use acetylene has to solve is which is the best apparatus? I put it in this form, because that is how the question is generally asked: ‘«I want the best apparatus I can get; which do you recommend?’’ Many persons study the catalogues of the various makers, and find that each one is “the only perfect generator yet brought out”; and too frequently the one that does the tallest high faluting is selected. Some write to the technical papers, and get replies from a number of correspondents—very much at variance with each other, and all more or less misleading; others, again, consult their friends or anyone they may come across who has used a generator, and all such advise very much as the spirit moves them. Now these methods, from an expert point of view, are eminently unsatisfactory, , nor are they likely to help on the acetylene industry, or even give satisfaction to the user. It is generally supposed that any apparatus which will produce acetylene is all that is | required ; but it is a serious mistake, especially for a lanternist, because there are really quite a | number of important points to be considered if anything like best results are to be obtained, and this brings me to the main point of this article. What are best results ? Many persons who go into a shop and ask for the best acetylene generator for lantern work, forget that every apparatus has some special feature or advantage; also that their idea of best may not coincide with that of the dealer. I therefore propose, without mentioning any particular machines or systems, to glance at a few of the salient features of some of the best known generators ; but I would point out, and strongly emphasise the fact, that. it is perfectly impossible to combine them all in any one apparatus.