The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (April 1901)

40 The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. of Messrs. Moeller & Condrup, of 78, Fore Street, E.C., borrowed from them what is known as a plumber’s lamp, of the style shown in sketch, and with this we gave a domestic exhibition in a room about 25 feetlong. Before trying it.we removed the bottom of the lantern, so as to adjust the lamp to the correct height for the condenser. We also made a ring and a bent rod in order to support an ordinary mantle, as used for general illuminating purposes. In the lamp in question we used petrol, which is practically the same as benzoline, and after heating the burner with methylated spirit the vapour from the petrol continued to burn with a powerful non-luminous flame over which the mantle was suspended. With this arrangement we obtained a light of great power, but the noise was. quite prohibitive, it being impossible to hear anyone in the room speaking seg a et oe a when standing close to the lantern, but the light itself, as we have said, was splendid, although under the crude conditions mentioned, rae some little difficulty in centering the ight. With the vapour lamp made for the purpose of lantern illumination by the Chicago firm alluded to, we are given to understand that the noise is reduced to a minimum. This we quite understand, for during a ten years’ stay (1878 to 1888) in America, we had experience with burners of somewhat the same class, but intended for different purposes, with which there was practically no noise. It is to be hoped that some English firm will either experiment with and bring out a light of this description, or import lamps of this style from the United States. «Late of the Royal Polytechnic Institution ”’ (?) By EDMUND H. WILKIE. (Late RoyaL PonyrEecunic INstirourioy). DON 2 7 MONGST the Editorial Notes in the columns of the Optican Maaic Lantern Journan for March of the present year, appeared a note which (with the permission of the esteemed Editor of the Journal) the writer would wish to utilise as a peg upon which to hang a few considerations which may be of value to some, and which can scarcely fail to be of interest to many. We understand from this note that a correspondent directed the attention of the Editor to the fact that ‘‘a great number of lantern exhibitors claim late of the Royal Polytechnic Institution after their names, whereas, in some instances, he states, the particular exhibitors were not born or, at least, reached the years of maturity at the time that this institution was given up and devoted to the requirements of a totally different kind to the old days of the Poly.” : ae an intimate knowledge of the affairs and personnel of the late Polytechnic Institution fora number of years, and being connected with the company both professionally and financially, it will be readily understood that such claims possess a very considerable interest for the writer, the more ‘so that as time goes on it becomes increasingly difficult to verify such statements. If it is a fact that considerable numbers of persons claim to be late of the Royal Polytechnic Institution it would be interesting to learn in what capacity they were employed in that building. I am given to understand that the majority at least of these persons style themselves ‘lantern operators,” and this gives us the impression at once that they formerly, at some time, filled the same post at the Polytechnic, otherwise, their position would entitle them to no present credit; as the fact of having cleaned the windows, swept the floors, or pasted the bills would not entitle them to rank as skilled operators or lecturers. We are faced by the fact that a large number of persons are desirous of impressing upon the public the belief that they were formerly engaged in lecturing or illustrating the lectures at the Polytechnic and the reason must be that they hope by this means to enjoy a reflected pes e mw)