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

perfection, combustion, and purity, to obtain which, the air supply islimited to that drawn through the perforations. Therefore at some timeor other an occasion may happen, where a difificulty may arise, in gettingthe flames up to their proper standard, if the flames do not rise, so thatthe points of light are seen flickering up the chimney (in ten minutesfrom the time of lighting), it is very certain, that something is at fault,the cause of failure can always be attributed to the following, viz. :—Badoil, imperfect trimming of the wicks, wicks left standing in the oil, orwicks that have grown hard with constant use, cottons woven too tight, itoften happens that they have become damp. In fact, the wicks are avery important item, and play a prominent part in all oil lights anddeserve special attention, if woven too tight, the oil cannot make its wayfreely up the meshes, in other words, the proper capillary attraction isabsent. It is always best to obtain fresh wicks from the maker of thelamp, not looking at it from a commercial point of view, but because itis an essential item to have the proper woven cotton. That usually soldat oil stores, is far too hard, and often too common for this purpose.Before inserting fresh wicks, be sure they are well dried, evaporatingevery particle of moisture, by drying in front of a fire, or in the oven foran hour or so,taking care not to scorch them, spare wick which has beencarried about in the lantern case, must not be used, until it has beendried, in the above manner. In changing the old wicks turn themup, and pull out with the fingers, introducing fresh wicks from the topof the tubes and notice that they occupy the entire space of the tube, ifnot of the proper width the oil accumulates at the corners, causing aflickering and an uneven flame. Do not attempt to light them untilthey have become saturated with the oil for at least ten minutes, if thisis attempted they will Ijecome charred, when once charred no coaxingwhatever will induce the flames to rise ;the combustion line also produces charring.turning the wick too high aboveTo prevent clogging or stickingit is advisable not to have the wick longer than six inches, nor to keepthe cogs of the spindles working on one part of the wick for any lengthof time.After three or four exhibitions, turn the wick up and cut off atleast half an inch, so that the cogs may work in a fresh place, this ismentioned because lamps have been sent to the maker to be put in order,because the pinions have been said to catch, or have been bent throughstraining. The real cause of this is, that the cogs continually working inone place, have worn the wick away, drawing little strands of cotton out,which have become entangled and wound around the spindles.If insteadof forcing the spindles and so bending them, about an inch of the cottonhad been cut off the top, the evil would have at once been remedied.