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

107as well as the lecturer, a system of cues and signalsshould be arrangedbetween them, a few bars played now and again during dissolving,appropriate air during the showing of effects and statuary.or anThere should be some well understood code of signals between thelecturer and the lantern operator, a verbal signal such as "the nextpicture, please," or the concluding words, " as our next picture willshow," are irritating to anyone who has the least idea what an exhibitionshould be. Reading lamps are now made with a colored glass, which isuncovered by a touch of the finger on the yjever, a small bell is alsoattached, but this is nearly as bad as the spoken signal.We once manipulated a lantern for a lecturer who used neither readinglamp nor bell, but carried a pointer in his hand, and being strange to hisdelivery, was asked what signal he should give us, as he always held thepointer in his right hand, we suggested that he should change it to his lefthand when he required the picture changed, and if we failed to observethis to gently tap it once on the floor, as though it was brought downin the usual manner, this worked perfectly satisfactory, and the tap notresorted to more than once or twice at the most. The best system ofany for signaling is a small electric battery and bell, the bell covered withwash leather or removed entirely, tlie bell is fitted inside the box containingthe battery. We believe now that the battery is entirely superseded,a small magnetic arrangement taking its place. The wires are carriedbetween the operator and lecturer, who has a small bell push fixed to hisdesk or held in his hand, no sound is audible except to the operator,who is conscious of a sharp tapping or rattling sound in the box, one tapfor next picture, two taps for focus, three taps look to the lights or picture,and so on ; by this means a code of communication is made.The whole affair is put up in a few minutes, the wires running alongthe ground underneath the matting, or if there is a gallery, the wires laidalong any projection, there is really no difficulty in fixing it anywhere,and the little extra trouble is repaid in the working, for nothing is so badand irritating to the lanternist as to be told to focus up, and if he is60 feet away it is no easy task to distinguish between a good focus andbad, especially if he has been looking at the naked light.