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666 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [October 16, 1885. The claim is— 1. The combination of a main frame, with a lid, a glass plate oi' membrane, permeable sheet, hermetically closing elastic cover, and means for producing a vacuum between the cover and the glass plate. 2. Producing a vacuum in the apparatus between the sheet permeable to air, and the hermetically closing elastic cover for the purpose of obtaining a perfectly uniform contact of the sheets with each other, or between the sensitive paper and the photo graphic negative. 3. An elastic packing ring adapted to hermetically enclose the volume of air contained in the apparatus. 4. The use of a membrane, instead of a glass plate. The whole substantially as described. Patent Granted in America. 327,449. Joseph Lyons, London, England. “ Stereoscope.” Filed April 1st, 1885. (No model.) Patented in England, September 12th, 1884, No. 12,329. Claim.—I. A stereoscope provided with a support, a sleeve surrounding said support, and a lamp-supporting arm attached to said sleeve, all substantially as stated. 2. A stereoscope eye-piece, in combination with a frame pivoted to said stereoscope, and containing two or more differently- coloured panes or plates of glass, which are arranged to be brought at will across the sight of said eye-piece, for the pur pose set forth. 3. A pair of slotted eye-pieces for a stereoscope, in combina tion with two frames pivoted to said stereoscope, and arranged to turn in the slots of said eye-pieces, respectively, each frame being provided with plates of glass of different colours, arranged to come into its eye-piece as the frame is turned, to colour the view, substantially as set forth. 4. In combination with a stereoscope, one or more movable frames, provided with separate panes or plates of glass having different colours, said frame or frames being attached to said stereoscope, but movable to present any one of said colours in the line of vision, substantially as set forth. A VISIT TO THE NORTH OF IRELAND WITH A CAMERA. AND ITS RESULTS. BY J. ALEXANDER FORREST.* Early in last month I received an invitation from an old friend in the north of Ireland to spend a week or two at his house, and I was specially invited to bring my camera with me. The offer was cheerfully accepted, and every arrangement made in the way of plates, and all the appurtenances thereof, belonging to an old amateur, who joyfully looked forward to the enjoyment of active holiday time, of calm prospecting, and then watching for the opportunity of Old Sol’s best display of Nature’s sweetest deve lopment. I left Liverpool by steamer for Londonderry at the unearthly hour of 3 a.m., our voyage occupying eighteen hours to reach Derry, and I felt the "rumel-rumels ” of the steamer anything but pleasant. Being a good sailor, I was not troubled with the greater evil called “ colly-wobbles,” therefore there was a mini mum of misery to me individually, as compared with many of my fellow passengers. We had nothing but the dreary waste of waters without a glimpse of sun. My friend awaited my arrival in Derry at 10 p.m., and a jolly supper with cheerful "chit-chat" amongst a group of young folks, whose society I have a decided weakness for, prepared me for my bed; and in the morning I found myself surveying a magnificent view from my host’s house of the city of London derry, which in picturesque effect is very little short of Edin- burgh, possessing also great historic interest. After breakfast I set forth to reconnoitre, and jot down points of interest, and the best time to take the views. My host and friend was no other than the well-known photo grapher, Mr. Alexander Ayton ; consequently, I was in luck’s way. His studio and dark room, along with every possible assistance and attention, made me feel “ lines had fallen in pleas ant places.” Under such exceptional auspices, it is not to be wondered at that my success was everything I could wish. We were too near the equinoctial gales to have settled weather, but we watched the course of the clouds, and took the benefit of any break, that the sun might sparkle the picture. • A communication to the Birkenhead Photographic Association, My views principally consist of the historical scenes of the great siege of Derry in the time of James the Second, and which lasted from December 7th until August 12th of the following year (1688), and the account of the noble defenders, their sufferings, their heroic endurance, is without parallel in the history of this country. In the porch of the Cathedral stands a pedestal supporting a shell that was fired into the citadel on the 10th of July, 1689, enclosing terms of capitulation. The answer it received was “No surrender ! ” Aud nobly it was carried out, for on the 12th of August, 1689, the enemy, finding that two frigates had burst through the impediments they had placed on the river, and relief was certain, they decamped in haste, leaving many traces of discomforture and ruin behind them. Thebesieged numbered 7,500 when the gates were closed on the 7th December, 1688, and at the raising of the siege 4,300 heroes were left to mourn over their departed brothers, and face their duty of again re. building their industries in peace and quietness. The inhabitants of the “green isle of the ocean” may well feel proud that they possess the blood of the martyr citizens, and well may it be asked who dare propose the separation of one of the brightest gems in Britain’s crown. I treasure the view’s I place before you, not from any merit they possess, but from a sense of their great historic value and association of a trip I can never forget, for Ireland is unique in hospitality and affection. Such is my experience of the sons of the north. I spent an evening with my friend making gelatine emulsion, and it has since occurred to me that it is the duty of our mem bers to experiment with Mr. W. B. Bolton’s suggestion—coating plates with collodion, washing, and then re-coating with gelatine emulsion; in fact, a sort of second edition of the Taupenot process, which our Manchester friends brought to such perfec tion. If this is successful, I see no reason why it should not be tried with Eastman and Warnerke’s plan of negative paper, where the non-halation virtue comes to light. Whilst waiting at Fahen Railway Station, Lough Swilly, I met a gentleman who told me that the President of the Glasgow Amateur Photographic Association had very lately paid them a visit with his camera, and that he had taken an instantaneous picture of an illicit still, that he discovered in an out-of-the-way place, in full operation. This, no doubt, is a novelty, but most of us will think it strange how to account for the presence of the worthy President. Was it a case of “Willie brew’d a peck o’ maut, and Rab and Allan came to prie ? ” or had the “ Deil ran awa’ with the exciseman?” Imagine the coolness in taking the focus of such a group. The picture, of course, is a rarity, and we trust will be enjoyed by the Photographic Soeiety of the city of Glasgow, and also by the revenue officers. I made a running trip to Kerry Kal, on the banks of Milroy Bay, and got half drowned in a deluge of rain, discovering that universal "side-cars" are not the best things for protecting your legs in moving along. After noon we were rewarded by a burst of sun, and the result was a picture of islands in the midst of the bay, and another of Rathmullen Castle. Photography has been the “handmaid” to all the arts and sciences, and is daily advancing in artistic quality. As amateurs have been in the past to a very large extent the precursors of all improvements, I should like to see them take a more practical grasp of every detail, from the making of the emulsion to the printed picture. The age is sadly too com mercial for high-class aim and excellence. Talent must be fostered by adequate reward, or it ceases to exist. It may not be out of place to relate a photographic incident that occurred to me some years ago with reference to Ireland. I received an order from the west coast, and, not having a business knowledge of the standing of the contractors who sent it, I requested a guarantee, and received a note from a “ noble lord,” “ I will sec you paid.” In the course of time, my attention was called to the fact that the contractors were in the Bank ruptcy List. I therefore wrote his lordship, and his reply was, “ Who are you that you should write me for money ? ” I felt a little puzzled, because he might question a written copy of his very graphic engagement. I took his original note and fixed it on the wall, taking a photograph of it as a negative, and sent him a print of it. He sent me a check by return of post—€84 —stating he was amused at the way I had taken to remind him of his obligation, as he felt the guarantee must have been signed by him. Photographic knowledge, in this case, rendered .me great service. I name this, as some of our friends may be in a similar fix as I found myself.
