[DAGUERREOTYPE.]
BY JOHN JOHNSON.
As a general thing, however perfect any invention may be deemed by the inventor or discoverer, it falls to the lot of most, to be the subject of improvement and advancement, and especially is this the case with those new projects in science which open an untrodden field to the view of the artizan. Such has been in an eminent degree, the case with the discovery first announced to the world by Mons. Jean Jacques Claude Daguerre, of Paris, in the year 1839, and which excited unbounded astonishment, curiosity and surprise. It may be questioned had any other than Daguerre himself discovered a like beautiful combination, whether the world would have been favored with details exhibiting so much care, patience and perseverance as the Daguerreotype on its introduction. Shortly after these details reached the United States, by Professor S. F. B. Morse, of New York, who was, at the time of the discovery, residing in Paris. By this announcement, the whole scientific corps was set in operation, many repeating the experiments, following carefully the directions pointed out by Daguerre, as being necessary to success. Among the number in the United States, was Alexander S. Wolcott (since deceased) and myself, both of this city. On the morning of the 6th day of October, 1839, I took to A. Wolcott's residence, a full description of Daguerre's discovery, he being at the time engaged in the department of Mechanical Dentistry, on some work requiring his immediate attention, the work being promised at 2 P. M., that day; having, therefore, no opportunity to read the description for himself, (a thing he was accustomed to do at all times, when investigating any subject,) I read to him the paper, and proposed to him that if he would plan a camera, (a matter he was fully acquainted with, both theoretically and practically) I would obtain the materials as specified by Daguerre. This being agreed to, I departed for the purpose, and on my return to his shop, he handed me the sketch of a camera box, without at all explaining in what manner the lens was to be mounted. This I also undertook to procure. After 2 P. M., he had more leisure, when he proceeded to complete the camera, introducing for that purpose a reflector in the back of the box, and also to affix a plate holder on the inside, with a slide to obtain the focus of the plate, prepared after the manner of Daguerre. While Mr. Wolcott was engaged with the camera, I busied myself in polishing the silver plate, or rather silver plated copper, but ere reaching the end preparatory to iodizing, I found I had nearly or quite removed the silver surface from off the plate, and that being the best piece of silver plated copper to be found, the first remedy at hand that suggested itself, was a burnisher, and a few strips were quickly burnished and polished. Meantime, the camera being finished, Mr. Wolcott, after reading for himself Daguerre's method of iodizing, prepared two plates, and placing them in the camera, guessed at the required time they should remain exposed to the action of the light; after mercurializing each in turn, and removing the iodized surface with a solution of common salt, two successful impressions were obtained, each unlike the other! Considerable surprise was excited by this result, for each plate was managed precisely like the other. On referring to Daguerre, no explanation was found for this strange result; time, however, revealed to us that one picture was positive, and the other negative. On this subject I shall have much to say during the progress of the work. Investigating the cause of this difference occupied the remainder of that day, However, another attempt was agreed upon, and the instruments, plates, &c., prepared and taken up into an attic room, in a position most favorable for light. Having duly arranged the camera, I sat for five minutes, and the result was a profile miniature, (a miniature in reality,) on a plate not quite three-eighths of an inch square. Thus, with much deliberation and study, passed the first day in Daguerreotype—little dreaming or knowing into what a labyrinth such a beginning was hastening us.
(To be continued.)
[GALVANIZING DAGUERREOTYPE PLATES.]
The Battery. The best way is to purchase a good Daniel's Battery. Price $2 00. To be had at any of the dealers.
For the benefit of those who cannot procure one, I would give the following directions for making one: Procure a copper cup, (sheet copper) 6 inches high, and 4 inches in diameter; also a cup of porous earthenware, (a small unglazed flower pot answers,) or a leather cup made water tight by sewing, or even a cylinder of porous wood, (say maple or ash,) 3 inches diameter, and about 6 inches high. This is to stand in the centre of the copper cup. Now, procure a solid cylinder of zinc, 6 inches high and 1 inch diameter. This is to stand in the centre of the porous cup. Fastened to the upper end of the zinc cylinder there should be a copper wire, pretty thick. It should be held by a screw, or soldered on, and previous to the fastening, both the wire and zinc should be made clean and bright, that there may be a perfect connection. A similar wire is to be fastened, in the same way, to the upper rim of the copper cup. Let these wires be about 6 inches long. To the end of the one coming from the copper fasten a plate of pure silver, about as large as a quarter plate, unless you wish to galvanize whole plates, in which case the silver plate must be larger, say, the size of a half plate. For small plates a silver dollar, enlarged to twice its size by hammering, will answer, but is not so good. To hammer it, it must be first heated, red hot, and allowed to cool slowly. This plate is to be immersed in the silver solution, described below, near the side of the solution jar. The other wire must be bent at the end like a hook, to receive the catch. This catch may be a piece of copper wire about 4 inches long, hooked at one end, and having several turns at the other end, to strengthen it. Between these turns the Daguerreotype plate, well polished, is inserted, as in a sort of jaw. The wire holding the catch should be so bent that the Daguerreotype plate will stand from one to three inches from, and face the annode, or silver plate.