PHOTOGRAPHIC NOTES AND QUERIES.
Originator of Collodion Process (Vol. vii., pp. 47. 92. 116.).—The fairest way of deciding M. Le Gray's claims would be, to quote what he really says.
Willat's pamphlet, published in 1850, entitled A Practical Treatise, &c., by Gustave Le Gray, translated by Thomas Cousins, ends with an appendix, which runs thus:
"I have just discovered a process upon glass by hydrofluoric ether, the fluoride of potassium, and soda dissolved in alcohol 40°, mixed with sulphuric ether, and afterwards saturated with collodion; I afterwards re-act with aceto-nitrate of silver, and thus obtain proofs in the camera in five seconds in the shade. I develope the image by a very weak solution of sulphate of iron, and fix with hyposulphite of soda. I hope by this process to arrive at great rapidity. Ammonia and bromide of potassium give great variations of promptitude. As soon as my experiments are complete I will publish the result in an appendix. This application upon glass is very easy: the same agents employed with albumen and dextrine, give also excellent results and very quick. I have also experimented with a mucilage produced by a fucus, a kind of sea-weed, which promises future success. I hope by some of these means to succeed in taking portraits in three or four seconds."
I know not at what time of the year the pamphlet came out, nor whether the appendix was subsequently added; but any copy containing it was bought about the middle of August, 1850.
Thos. D. Eaton.
[We have much pleasure in inserting this communication, as it may be the means of drawing fresh attention to the other substances mentioned by Le Gray; for we are strongly of opinion that, notwithstanding the advantages of collodion, there are other media which may prove preferable.—Ed.]
The Soiling of the Fingers may be entirely avoided by a simple expedient. Use a slightly concave horizontal dish for sensitizing, and a depth of solution not sufficient to wet the back of the collodionized plate, and after the impressed plate
has been placed on the levelled stand and developed, proceed thus: instead of holding the plate by the fingers to perform the subsequent processes, take a strip of glass (say five inches long and one and a half wide for the ordinary portrait size), put a single drop of water on it, and carefully pass it beneath the developed plate; lift the glass thereby; the adhesion is sufficiently firm to sustain the plate in any required position for the remaining manipulations till it is washed and finished.
Cokely.
Sir W. Newton's Process.—Chloride of Bromium.—May I ask, through the medium of your very excellent journal, what purpose Sir W. Newton intends to meet by the application of his wash of chloride of barium previous to iodizing?
F. Maxwell Lyte.
The Collodion Process.—Absence from London has prevented my seeing your Numbers regularly; but in one for December I see Mr. Archer has used my name in connexion with the collodion process. He states that he called several times, and made me familiar with the process; by which he would lead persons to suppose that he taught me in fact to take pictures. Now I beg most distinctly to state that this is incorrect. Mr. Archer made, it is true, several attempts in my glass room to take a picture, but totally failed. And why? Because he attempted to follow out the process as he himself had published it. From that time I worked it out by myself, assisted by hints from Mr. Fry, who at the time I allude to was a successful manipulator, and had produced and exhibited many beautiful pictures, and at whose suggestion I commenced it in the first instance.
There is also another portion of Mr. Archer's letter incorrect; but as this relates to the sale of collodion, I will let it pass, trusting, as you have given insertion to his, you will not refuse space for mine.
F. Horne.
123. Newgate Street.
Portable Camera (Vol. vii., p. 71.).—If India rubber should turn out to be what H. Y. W. N. thinks he has found it to be, it would be capable of being turned to excellent account. For instance, instead of having a single "portable camera," which is on many accounts very awkward to use, why should not the tourist have a light framework constructed, and covered entirely with this India rubber: in fact, an India rubber box, in which his camera, and a partitioned shelf containing his collodion, developing fluid, hypo-soda solution, &c., might be easily packed, and in which, by the aid of sleeves, &c., he might coat his plates, and develop and fix them, quite apart from his camera? He must have something to pack his camera, &c. in; and the above-described packing-case would be very light, and also waterproof.
J. L. S.