On this day (September 18) in the year 1891, the following article
appeared as the sixth in a series in "The Photographic Times" (New York;
pp. 466-7):
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE DAGUERREOTYPE.
AS SEEN BY A COUNTRY "OPERATOR."
VI.
My first purchased outfit consisted of one half-size camera, one pair
ditto ditto coating boxes and one chair clip head rest, all second-hand.
The camera was furnished with a Voigtlander lens, accompanied with the
legend that it was the identical one from which the plaster casts
mentioned in a former chapter were made.
Whether this was true or not I had no documentary evidence to show. The
professor, however, assured me he had no doubt of its authenticity. He
also said he felt certain the lens was a good one, although its former
possessor had been able to obtain nothing with it but blurred images. It
had no central stops, and gave with the full opening a well-defined,
luminous image, which was promising. In short, we found that by moving
the lens forward a certain distance after focusing it, the image on the
plate came out with the same sharpness as shown in the previous image on
the ground glass. This, of course, proved that the chemical focus was
behind the visible focus, and therefore the sensitive surface must be
placed behind the position occupied by the ground glass when the visible
image was sharp on the latter. This object was gained once for all, by
setting the ground glass forward in the frame to the same distance from
its normal position. Theoretically it will be claimed that this was
incorrect, and that a different adjustment ought to be made for every
different focal distance. However this may be, I never discovered the
need of any readjustment, and say now, after having examined anew many
old specimens made with that lens years and years ago, that I have never
seen any more delightful optical work than was performed by it. I
discovered that I could not obtain in any plane (so to speak) of the
picture the extreme sharpness that some of my friends and competitors
were able to produce, and I was sometimes almost afraid that this
intensity of detail might tell in their favor to my disadvantage. But I
also discovered a charm in pictures that were nowhere exasperatingly
sharp and yet nowhere wanting in sufficient detail.
But if my lens proved to be a blessing in disguise, for such in verity
it was, it was the only piece of apparatus of much value, except as a
makeshift. One of my coating boxes was cracked--that is, the jar. This I
mended with cloth. As the experiment was a success, and as the way of
doing it may suggest an expedient in some emergency, I will impart the
secret.
I took a strip of strong coarse sheeting as wide as the jar was high,
and long enough to reach around it, and, as I knew how to cover a ball,
proceeded to surround it on its four upright sides with a tight bandage,
drawn together with as much tension as the cloth would permit. This was
painted with several coats of boiled linseed oil and white lead, which
dried like a bone, making the jar then stronger than ever before, and it
lasted for years.
Who that has ever in his life used one of those nondescript, curse-
inciting engines, once known on earth as the chairclip head-rest, will
ever forget it? Surely, any one who, having been led by circumstances
into confidential relations with any machination of like power for evil,
has escaped with nothing to repent of in consequence, is a fortunate
individual. Think how many have fallen like one of my old friends whose
name I withold. One fine day, being reduced to his last plate--not having
time to prepare another, and having no assistant--another customer
called--a very particular person who could spare only a few minutes for
the sitting. It was an important case; reputation was concerned in its
successful issue. On the other side the conditions were all favorable--
light good, no doubt about the time of exposure. My friend went forward
confident of success. The sitting was made in dashing style; then a short
suspense. After a little a voice was heard from the dark room. Listen!
These were the very word: "D----N THE HEAD REST!" Considering the
provocation, perhaps it may be hoped the recording angel treated it in
some such manner as he did the oath of Uncle Toby. The most remarkable
thing about these lively machines, and one that I never saw or heard
satisfactorily explained, was its faculty of getting into sight. I will
offer but one suggestion, which any one who does not think as reasonable
as some other explanations of well known phenomena, may furnish a better
one if he can--and that is, this machine was composed of wood and iron,
two substances by nature antagonistic the one to the other. There were
wooden rods which were expected to slide through iron tubes, and nothing
was more common than for them to refuse to do so. Another time an iron
screw was set to prevent a wooden spindle from turning or slipping down,
especially when the prongs were immersed in the mazes of a nervous lady's
back hair. Of a sudden, without the least warning, that particular screw
upon which so much depends, gives way; another, intrusted with the duty
of keeping the fabrication upright deserts its post, when a general
catastrophe seems inevitable, and which nothing short of the wonderful
presence of mind the operator prevents. Don't tell me there wasn't some
old hard feeling between the wood and iron at the bottom of all this
trouble.
W. H Sherman.
(To be continued.)
(Previous installments appeared on Jan 20, March 13, April 17, May 15,
and September 4 and were posted to DagNews in 1997 on the date of their
original publication. The seventh installment will appear on October 23.)
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Posted for your enjoyment. Gary W. Ewer
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09-18-97 |
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