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

mixadvisable to have a mahogany, or some substantial wood body,well framed up, with clumped and tongued side doors, so that if anyone part shrinks, it will not affect any other portion of the body, orsplit, which is frequently the case with cheap and shoddy made bodies,which are often made of deal, stained to represent mahogany, rosewood,walnut, etc. A wood body lantern should have an inner lining of iron,or tin, and should be so constructed that an air space is left betweenthe body and lining. An entirely metal body should not be used forlimelight, if avoidable, especially if the body is very small, as it becomesmuch heated, and it is not a pleasant thing to catch one's fingers againstin the dark. The writer has cause to remember a circumstance of thisnature. An occasion occurred at which he had an opportunity of usingone of the so-called portable lanterns, in which a blow-through jet wasused ;the lantern was constructed entirely of iron, without any liningof course, and as small as possible, in fact, just sufificient to holdthe jet and condenser comfortably, Consequently, in less than half anhour, the lantern became so hot that itwas impossible to touch the slideholder to introduce a fresh frame, as it became heated the metal expanded,and the greatest difficulty was experienced in moving the carrier, soonafter the condenser cracked,— nothing less could be expected under thecircumstances. Portable single lanterns are just now a craze, and theuser, what our Yankee cousins would call a "crank," with an unlimitedsupply of cash, for renewing cracked condensers. With a Biunial orTriple, it is quite another thing, as you give the alternate lantern timeto cool, and extra space for the radiated heat.For use with oil light, a japanned iron body with proper means ofventilation is all that can be desired, as it has the advantage of beingmuch lighter than wood. To clean a japanned body that has becomefinger marked and greasy : a little turpentine and vinegar together,into this dip a soft rag, rubbing the japanned-work until the grease isremoved ; when thoroughly dry, polish with a leather on to which hasbeen dusted a little prepared chalk ; when finished, the japan shouldbe warmed in front of a slow fire, this giving the final gloss, allow itto cool before handling. If it is necessary to adapt limelight to a preexistingoil lantern, all that is necessary is a lime-tray to carry the jet, anda flat dome chimney to keep the light in the body. Presuming thereis a door at the side and an open back to the lantern for the insertionof the jet, &c.It is very convenient to have a small curtain fixed to the back of thelantern when limelight is used, it can be so adapted that it in no way