When a daylight developing tank is used, a dark room is needed only for loading the plate holders and for transferring exposed plates to the tank. These operations may be performed satisfactorily in darkness, using a large box with holes made in the side to admit the hands, as shown in the sketch. The box may be made of light wood or stout cardboard. The sleeves fitted to the openings are provided with elastic bands to insure that no light creeps in at the edges. The holders, plates, and sponge should be arranged conveniently in the box before beginning operations.
A Dark Room Is Unnecessary for the Loading of Plates When the Device Shown is Used
The box must be made light-proof by lining it with black cloth if necessary. If any difficulty is experienced in identifying the film side of the plates they may be marked with minute tabs at the corner on the film side, or identified by moistening the finger tip on the sponge and testing for a slight stickiness of the film side at the extreme corner. A red window might be fitted into the box, but the device has been found satisfactory without it.—Contributed by H. J. Gray, Lewes, Sussex, England.
¶New brooms should be soaked in strong, hot salt water. This toughens the bristles and makes them last much longer.
Rubber Bands Made from Old Inner Tubes
Old inner tubes of bicycles, or other vehicles, may be cut into rubber bands of various widths which will be found to give good service. The tubes should be laid flat on a hard piece of board, or a piece of sheet zinc, and the bands cut off one at a time with a sharp knife held against a straightedge. In cutting them on wood, it is best to use a close-grained stock and to cut across the grain of the wood.
Sailors’ Sweetheart Picture Frame
The Center Panel is Reserved for the Sailor’s Sweetheart, and in the Others Pictures of Relatives are Placed