HANDY APPARATUS FOR THE DARK-ROOM.
One of the latest conveniences for the dark-room is a developing-tray so arranged that a plate may be examined during development without taking it from the tray. The tray is made with a solid glass bottom and wooden sides, with a reservoir at one end for holding the developer while examining the plate. When the tray is lifted the solution runs down into this reservoir. Another tray, made on the same principle, is of solid glass, and a piece of glass extends about a third of the way across the top of the tray, making a reservoir for the developing solution during the examination of the plate. There are small knobs on the bottom of the tray to prevent the plate adhering to the bottom by suction. A 5-by-8 tray with glass bottom and wooden sides costs $1.20. The solid glass, same size, costs $1.25.
Rubber Finger-Tips.—Rubber finger-tips are among the "must haves" of the photographer. They are made specially for use in handling photographic chemicals, are a perfect protection for the fingers, and prevent the discoloration of the nails and ends of the fingers from the various solutions used in photography. They are very thin, and fit closely to the fingers, and do not impair the sense of touch in any great degree. A set of three costs 15c., and their use prevents any danger of poisoning when handling dangerous chemicals.
A Handy Plate-Lifter.—A most convenient plate-lifter is a metal finger-shield, very much the shape of an open-top thimble. It has a sharp piece of steel attached to one side, and extending about half an inch beyond the end of the shield. To use, the shield is placed on the first finger, the pointed piece of metal slipped under the negative, raising it from the solution. It can then be taken out without having put the fingers in the solution. This little lifter costs 15c.
Glass Rods.—For stirring solutions one should have a small glass rod, especially when making solutions for sensitizing paper. The nitrate-of-silver solution should never come in contact with any metal. In sensitizing paper, where it is floated on the silver bath, it is quite necessary to have a glass rod to lay across the top of the tray, to draw the paper over when turning, or removing from the bath. This helps to spread the solution evenly and removes the superfluous liquid. A hollow glass tube designed for this purpose has one end flattened to prevent its turning when laid on the tray. The price is 25c.; a glass stirring-rod costs 8c.
Photographic Chemical Tablets.—One can buy, put up in the form of compressed tablets, all or nearly all the chemicals used in developing and printing. These tablets are warranted not to alter or change by age or climate, all that is necessary to preserve them being to cork the bottles immediately after taking out what is required for use. Each bottle of tablets is labelled with full directions for use, and the photographer who wishes to develop his pictures while away on an outing will find them very convenient. They take up but little room, and all that is necessary is the addition of a little water when needed. The price of a complete outfit for developing and toning a large quantity of pictures is $3.
Sir Knight Robert Guest, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, asks if taking money prizes in photographic contests makes one a professional photographer, and if one can sell his pictures and still remain an amateur. Taking prizes in competitions does not class one with the professional photographers, nor does selling prints make one a professional. By a professional is understood one who makes a business of photography, either in opening a gallery for portraits or in devoting himself to making pictures of all sorts of commercial articles, photographs of buildings, interiors, etc. An amateur is one who does this work for pastime, taking pay occasionally for his work, but not making it a business. We should like to have Sir Robert send us some views of Yarmouth and vicinity for reproduction in our Camera Club column.
Sir Knight Herbert H. Pease asks where bromide and platinum paper can be bought, and which is the best; the price, and if it can be developed with eikonogen developer, and fixed with hypo the same as plates; if it is best to mount damp or dry; if the answer to Sir William Merritt that the contest closed December 15 was a mistake; and if one stands a better chance of winning a prize if he does not use the glossy papers for printing. Bromide or platinum paper may be bought of any dealer in photographic supplies; both papers are good, the bromide being the easiest for the experimenter; bromide may be developed with eikonogen and fixed in the same way as a plate, but before the print is fixed it must be flowed with a bath made of acetic acid, 1 dr., and water, 32 oz., according to the directions which accompany the paper; 4-by-5 bromide paper costs 25c. a dozen. The date December 15 for close of contest was a mistake. There is but one competition, and it closes February 15. All pictures are judged according to their merits, without regard to printing processes. The platinum and bromide pictures are the more artistic, and mechanical finish is one of the points on which pictures are marked.