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694 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [OCTOBER 30, 1885. are enclosed in a neat vulcanite case, and as the shutter acts as a diaphragm as well as a shutter, loose diaphragms are not re quired. Two thin vulcanite slides, having square-shaped aper tures equal in size to the full opening of the lens cut in one of their ends, are worked to and from each other in the direction of their length by a pivoted operating lever, pivoted in the centre of its length, and loosely attached by a pin at each end to each different slide. Attached loosely by a pin half-way between one end and the centre of the operating lever is the loose arm of a toggle flat metal strip. Its opposite end is pivoted to the moving or rigid arm, which is rigidly fastened to the axis of the power mechanism. This particular arm rotates in a half-circle from the top of the case to the bottom. About its axis is a loose barrel held in check by a ratchet or toothed wheel and a suitable pawl. On the outer end of the barrel is a wire projection for twisting or turning it, and also for winding up the spring. One end of the operating flat steel, coiled well-tempered watch-spring, is secured to this barrel, while the other is fastened to the i igid arm of the toggle strip. The axis of the rigid arm, the barrel, the steel spring, pawl, and ratchet wheel are all supported on a long lever pivoted only at its extreme lower end, while the upper end engages in notches on metal strip at the top on the outside of the case. This may be termed the diaphragm regu lator, for, as it is moved by the finger towards the lens, it causes the shutter slides to make a longer movement through a greater motion of the operating lever, by reason of the rigid arm of the toggle approaching the lever. On the other hand, if the regu lator is pushed away to the left in the other direction, the motion of the operating lever will be small, and so also that of the shutter slides. In the former case a large diaphragm is pro duced, in the latter a small one. To operate the shutter, the rotating rigid toggle arm is moved upwards, until the shutter is caught by the releasing trigger. Pressure upon the latter at once allows the spring to act and bring the rigid toggle arm down ; this in turn operates through its loose connecting arm, the operating lever, which pushes the shutter slides open, so their apertures coincide, until the toggle arm reaches the centre of its half-circle, when, on its lower half of the half-circle, it reverses the motion and draws the shutter slides back. The motion is consequently what is termed a “go ” and “return” movement, and, as all the parts are nicely bal anced, no jar is perceived. The speed of the shutter is regulated by winding or unwinding the flat spiral spring. For time ex posures a special latch is provided for holding the shutter slides open, and for focussing. A simple pneumatic attachment is provided when desired, for actuating the rotating rigid toggle arm in place of the spring, or with it when the same is loosened, whereby pressure on the bulb gradually opens the shutters, and, releasing it, closes them. By a constant slow pressure and release, the shutters are slowly moved during an exposure, so that the plate receives the full benefit of the full opening of the lens and the sharpness derived from the small stops. The releasing trigger can also be operated by a pneumatic arrangement. One of the advantages claimed for this shutter is that it cuts a sharper instantaneous picture than would be possible for an open lens with a simple drop shutter, as the diameter of the diaphragm constantly varies with the motion of the shutter slides. At a meeting held on September 22nd, a new Prosch shutter working between the lenses was shown, with some excellent specimens of work by it. A dissolving magic lantern, wherein the gases were made, as consumed, on the spot without cylinders or large weighted bags, was exhi bited by Professor G. Fairchild, and worked well. Photographing the International Yacht Race furnished many opportunities for our amateurs to practise instanta neous work, and several excellent views were obtained. The funeral procession of General Grant was also abun dantly photographed, in spite of the many disadvantages as to light and position. The most recent widely-photo graphed event was the sudden but successful submarine explosion of nine acres of rock in the East River, New York, at a place named Hell Gate, which has for years been a dangerous barrier to vessels bound to or from New York by way of Long Island Sound. The rock known as Flood Rock was honey-combed underneath the water, and then loaded with one hundred and fifty tons of dynamite. At the touch of his daughter’s finger General John New ton saw in a twinkling, like a flash of lightning, the grand work he had devoted himself himself to for nine years successfully accomplished. The little key sent the flash through the mine, and instantly a grand transformation took place. The Society of Amateur Photographers had members stationed at various points, and succeeded in obtaining several good views. Many comical and curious events happened to crowds of amateurs and others who were on hand with their cameras, the relation of which I will reserve for a succeeding letter. An improved form of the Edison Electric Standard measurement of light apparatus for dry plate manufac turers is soon to be brought out, which will be as complete in its way as the Eastman Roll Holder. I’iie New York Amateur, THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION.—No. II. BY A. H. WALL. I closed my last paper by a quotation from Ruskin, and my present one will open with a quotation from the same source. “ It is a sorrowful thing to me,” says that grand old art critic, “ and one bearing witness very bitterly to the dishonesty of criticism in general, that people should be so ready to call every kind of fault-finding ‘hostility’ the moment they can bring it home to a known person. One would think, to hear them, that there was no right or wrong in art; that every opinion which men formed of it was dictated by prejudice, and expressed in passion ; that all praise was treacherous, all rebuke malignant, and silence itself a mere pause of hesitation between flattery and slander.” It is mainly because I know only too well how real this “ sorrowful thing ” is, that I strive to give the why and the wherefore side by side with my critical remarks, anxious only to be useful and honest to the best of muy ability. To resume. The photograph roughly indicated in fig. 7 is one of Mr. Ralph Robinson’s subject studies—53 in the catalogue. The female model is here capitally posed ; her attitude and expression tell the artist’s conception of the poet's.stoY with considerable force ; but the male model, altholig well posed, does not seem to enter so well into thefele or spirit of his part. The towy, ill-fitting, palpably the trical wig is bad ; the white table-cloth goes far to SPoIn is composition of light and shade. The linear comPos on to simple, good, line balancing line, and one leading bold another. But was Longfellow’s lady so unblushinsrdirect as to invite a gentleman to make love to her in ths
