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

far back as 1811. Lanterns of the argand pattern at this period burntsperm oil, the smell and mess of which, even now seem familiar.The Silber argand, burning paraffin was next introduced as an illuminant forthe lantern, and was certainly a stride in the right direction.But the revolutionin oil lamps, commenced at the mventionof the Sciopticon (fig.by Mr. L. Marcey, of Philadelphia,whichburnt mineral oil, with two wicks i|in.wide, the upper portion of the lamp beinga fixture in the lantern, the wick tubesand cistern alone being withdrawable, theonly objection, and certainly it was a graveone, was that the glasses would not standthe heat. This lantern is still made, andis considerably improved. Then came theTriplexicon (fig. 2), having the wick twoinches wide, with a blown conical chamber,fitting inside a cap made of tin,which was cut out back and front.Thesewere found to fracture when suddenlyheated, owing to the unequal expansionof the glass. This was guarded againstlater, by cutting these chambers intosegments and using two pieces, back andfront of the lamp (fig. 3). The centrewick was straight, but the two side onescurved inwards.i),