The Art of projection and complete magic lantern ... - Yesterday Image

—increased by the aid of a powerful reflector, which appears accordingto the illustration larger than the entire lamp. He also states, the*'Phantasmagoria " is nothing more than a Magic lantern, in which theimages are received on a transparent screen, which is fixed in view ofthe spectator. The Magic lantern mounted upon wheels, is made torecede from, or approach the screen ; the consequence of which is,the picture on the screen expands to a gigantic size, or contracts into aninvisible object,or mere luminous spot, &c.About this time Professor Phillipstahl, a German, introduced and usedan oil-lighted lantern, using blacked opaque figures.Mr. Childe, an artist and enthusiast, who afterwards played anmiportant part in inventing and painting Mechanical effects, was waitedupon by the Professor, and commissioned to paint him figures withmechanical motions, advantage of which was taken at a later date,combined with Dissolving, which led to the production of the excellentresults at the Polytechnic Institution.Lieut. Drummond, in 1826, used an ordinary oxyhydrogen blowpipe,with the addition of a ball of lime, on to which the flamethis was only used for signalling purposes,impinged,and enabled him to signal toa distance of 100 miles. Who first used it in the lantern it is impossibleto say, several having made this claim.The much-talked of " Phantasmagoria" was brought out in 1848, ona large scale, and was an immense success, the lime light was used as theilluminant in conjuction with oil lanterns. All the subjects at this timehaving opaque back grounds around the figures, it was brought out atthe Lyceum Theatre. A description of this illusion is as follows :Professor Phillipstahl commenced his seance, by appearing on thedimly lighted stage with a small lighted lamp in his hand, saying" Hush de ghost, de ghost," with the idea of adding all possible mysteryto the proceedings, he would then put the lamp out and retire. TheCurtain then quietly rose, and disclosed a mass of clouds, whichslowly opened exposing a ghostly figure, which appeared gradually toincrease in size, and advancing, as though about to come amongstthe audience, it finally retired, clouds covering the phantom, otherfigures then took its place ; some of a horrible character appearingand vanishing in like manner. He informed his audience that he couldproduce any departed relative at will, and as the figure was so envelopedin drapery, there was no fear of recognition, or contradiction. This wasa great success.