
On this day (November 11) in the year 1847, the following text appeared in
the "Farmer and Mechanic." (New-York) Vol. 1, No. 46. The article is
illustrated with a wood-engraving of Avery's saloon. This article, along
with original illustration, is found on The Daguerreian Society web site at:
http://www.daguerre.org/resource/texts/avery_wagon.html
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Avery's Portable Daguerreotype Saloon.
Mr. Austin Avery, of Norwich, Connecticut, has invented a new process for
taking Daguerreotype miniatures, pictures, and landscapes, and which
promises great success to the artist in the prosecution of this wonderful
science. His invention consists in the erection of what he calls a
"Portable Daguerreotype Saloon," which is easily conveyed on wheels from
place to place through the country.
Our correspondent "Alana," remarks:--"This saloon has all the necessary
requisites for the due execution of the most perfect miniature. The great
embarrassment that has hitherto attended the artist, in regard to throwing
the light in a proper degree, and from a proper source upon the object, is
wholly obviated, and these means are attained in a manner which render the
miniature striking, and brilliant in the extreme.
"But one of the chief advantages derived from this invention consists in
its portability. This saves the practitioner the trouble and expense of
fitting up new rooms whever he goes, which must necessarily be attended
with much trouble and expense, for practitioners of this character are
generally wandering artists. It is also peculiarly calculated to take with
the public. It creates quite a sensation on entering a village; it
published its character; the people flock to it out of curiosity at first.
And finally, the great success that has attended its operations justly
entitles it a place among the many improvements of the age.
Mr. Avery is about to apply for "letters patent" for his improvement."
(Additional text from page 548:)
We have copied on our first page a daguerreotype drawing of a traveling
Daguerreotype Saloon, got up by an enterprising Yankee in the vicinity of
Norwich, Ct. It will be seen that this convenience for the practice of the
Daguerrean art not only promises patronage to its proprietor from persons
who might not feel interested in the subject, unless it were brought
literally to their own doors, but it adds greatly to its facilities and
adaptation, by enabling the operator to take transcripts of trees,
buildings, landscapes and objects of curiousity which he may meet with in
the way of his perigrinations; and being enabled to place his saloon in the
most favorable positions better and more perfect pictures of natural
scenery and objects will be readily obtained.--Should the proprietor push
his adventures "all the way to New Hampshire," we hope he may send us a
picture of the Monadnoc and the features of the old man of the mountains.
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Posted for your enjoyment. Gary W. Ewer
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11-11-97 |