THE MAGIC CAMERAS.
The Chadburn attachment to the oxyhydrogen microscope serves its purpose excellently, but a singular means of exhibiting opaque bodies, of any description whatever, has been contrived by the Optician Kruss, of Hamburg.
Fig. 141.
A tin box, 4 4 4 4, a foot cube, or a little less high than broad and long, is divided by a tin partition, M, into two compartments, A and B, dark chambers, in fact.
In the room, B, a lamp, C, has a concave reflector, D, which concentrates the light upon a condensing lens (commonly called a bull’s eye), E. This light is directed upon the place F, where a door is made with a convenient slit for the insertion of prints, cartes de visite, or other photographs, lace, gems, jewels (the most intricate patterns afford pictures of great beauty, and the scintillations of colour from diamonds and other stones are perfectly bewitching), &c. Or the door can be opened, and one’s hand, eye, ear, or any other object held to the light, is likewise projected on the screen through the tube H H. This tube is solidly inserted in the end of the room A, diametrically opposite an imaginary circle drawn on the side or end of the door F. A second tube slides freely in and out, containing two lenses, as in ordinary magic lanterns.
A screen is constructed of an upright frame, on which is smoothly stretched common white tissue-paper, or the same oiled, or linen or silk made transparent.
An object being placed in the door F, the light being turned on and the focus being properly obtained, the picture projected on the screen will be seen by persons on its other side greatly magnified.
Where the oxyhydrogen light cannot be used the lamp should furnish the next best light. Pure sperm oil, in which crushed camphor, an ounce to half a pint, has been dissolved in gentle heat, in a suitable lamp, with an argand chimney to prevent flickering, will be sufficient.
We should add that a tin chimney, bent as in magic lanterns, will, of course, be required to complete the apparatus.
