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252 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [May 21, 1869. “ RE-SITS ” and Babies.—A correspondent of the Phila delphia Photographer says:—“ I give you my plan to avoid retaking negatives : I tell my customers I do not warrant my pictures to please; I only warrant them good, and to please myself; and when they are not pleased, and my work is all right, I charge fifty cents for a new negative, and, as a result, 1 do not have a negative to retake more than once in two weeks at least; whereas, before adopting the rule, I think one-third of the ladies would sit over and try a different dress almost as many times as they had different dresses. My plan in getting along with babies is, always to charge fifty cents for my trouble, if I fail to get a picture after trying three times, and any one having common sense will find no fault, but consider it just and proper. I think, after two years’ trial of the above rules, it saves a sight of trouble, and is better every way.” Using Glass Baths.—" Photographers who use glass baths will find it a great protection to them if they would place in the bottom of them a layer of pounded glass. If a plate should fall off the dipper, the pounded glass pievents it from striking and breaking the bath. Moreover, the small pieces of film, and other things that sometimes float around in the bath, are caught by the pounded glass, and kept from doing injury to the sensitized plate.”—Philadelphia Photographer. Wo Gorxesponents, adding about a grain of bromide of cadmium to each ounce of the old collodion you mention, you may probably obtain soft negatives from it. C. HARRIS.—We cannot, at present, give any definite information regarding the firm you name, but we have too much reason to fear that it is in difficulties; a circumstance we have serious reason to regret. J. A. C.—Our absence from town has prevented the possibility of our complying with your request, but we believe that you may rely absolutely upon the dealer you name as a trustworthy and respectable man. Collodion.—Shellac dissolved in methylated spirit, and coloured with gum dragon, will make a good lacquer for brass-work. The brass must be heated before applying the lacquer. 2. The two collodions you name will probably mix satisfactorily; but we have not tried them. 3. The precipitate is reduced metallic silver. An Amateur.—Thanks. We shall have pleasure in using the design shortly. T. G.—The print was for your acceptance. It is printed on albu minized paper, and then enamelled with gelatine and collodion. We shall be glad to hear of your success. W. F. Morgan.—The negatives arrived smashed into so many pieces that it is difficult to see the exact nature of the defect. So far as we can see, the irregular effect in the sky may bo due to the wrinkling of the film during development. We have occasionally got a similar result when the developer has boon allowed to remain for some time on the plate without motion. Are either of these causes in operation ? Gallic Acid.—Ground glass is not desirable as a means of ad mitting light through a negative for enlargement, unless the sun be shining directly on the negative, in which case it is useful. 2. Wooden trays coated inside with shellac dissolved in wood naphtha for the solutions for enlarged prints. Young.—We shall keep our readers informed of the progress of the new Fine Arts Copyright Bill. FINEM Respice.—We have no doubt that, after a little practice, you will recover the skill of former years, and, with care and patience, you will find Mr. Gordon’s gum-gallic process satisfac tory. Mr. Gordon uses a 40-grain nitrate bath, and adds a quarter of a grain of iodide of potassium to each 100 grains of silver used. Do not either neutralize or acidify until you try the bath with a wet plate; if it work well, you need not alter it; if it fog a little, add about 1 drop of nitric acid to 20 ounces of solution; if it still fog or give streaks, neutralize and sun, and then filter, and again acidify. 2. It is well to iodize only the portion of solution required for immediate use, and replenish with the uniodized solu tion. 3. It is a more definite plan to add the trace of iodide than to immerse a plate, although the latter mode, or the plan you pro pose, would do. 4. Ammonia-sulphate of iron may be used in stead of the ordinary protosulphate, using it about a third stronger ; but for gum plates you had better follow Mr. Gordon’s recipe. 5. The sample of yellow—or, rather, of orange—glass is very good. If you have any doubt as to holes or chips in the flash ing, you can use two thicknesses, or apply besides a coating of Aldis’s non-actinic varnish, recently described in our pages. 6. Take a piece of calico and stretch over the frame, attaching it to the edges with tacks, then mount the picture with paste thereon. James Maycock.—We have no means of ascertaining the actual - manufacturer of the paper to which you refer. The samples do not reach us in time for testing. 2. Both the tones are pretty good ; we prefer that marked 2 on the back. 3. The plate is held in position at the top, quite detached from the holder or protector, and consequently the solutions touch nothing but the plate. There is no need for the cleaning or delay to which you refer, as the plate protector is never brought into contact with the solutions. 4. The acetate of morphia process gives excellent results where keeping properties are not required. C. E. F.—We should scarcely like to rely upon any woven fabric for the dark-room window; but it is possible that two thicknesses of the material enclosed might, with a limited area, answer. We should, however, prefer a double sash or a frame covered with two thicknesses of the non-actinic muslin. R. S.—As we are not continually trying the samples of collodion of different makers, we cannot speak with certainty of the compara tive merits of the productions of the various makers you name. We know that Nos. 2, 4, and 7 are good, and believe, from what we learn, that some of the others, if not all, are good. Of Nos. 1 and 6 we have heard good reports. W. V. F. We have found dilute nitric acid answer best for clean ing opal glass, and, if the stains are persistent, covered with the acid and heated with a spirit-lamp until they disappear. 2. By Fair Play.—A statement so seriously affecting another as that you make should be verified by your name, at least, for our satisfac tion. It would be obviously unfair to publish such a communica tion sent to us anonymously. Send us your name and the town to which you refer, and we can then take the proper steps. Cymbo.—We are glad to have afforded you the satisfaction. Mr. Whiting’s Photo-Camera-Lucida.—We understand that Mr. Whiting’s announcement will be made in our business columns when he is prepared to supply the public. G. Lewis.—Neither of the samples of glass you enclose are of the best kind, or perfectly non-actinic. No. 1 is, however, much the better of the two; No. 2 we should think comparatively useless; is not orange, but a pale brown. Amateur.—The exhibition, as we understand the matter, will be open to every one. We do not know of any English photographers who contemplate contributing. Possibly the non-arrival of an answer to your question may have arisen from delay in getting translation effected. Venator.-—It is quite unnecessary to use distilled or rain water for the hypo fixing bath; common water will answer every purpose unless it is very impure. We cannot account for your prints so rapidly fading if you take all the precautions you state. Do you invariably use fresh hypo solution ? 2. We believe the Autotype Company will supply the materials. You had better try to be present at the next meeting of the Photographic Society, to witness Mr. Johnson’s demonstration. 3. We believe that collodio-chloride prints have a better chance of permanency than albuminized prints. 4. Sulphuric acid or nitric acid may be used. Answers by Post.—Wo much regret that we cannot comply with many requests, received every week, desiring us to send answers by post, stamped and addressed envelopes being frequently enclosed to ensure answers. Our regular duties are so numerous and so pressing as to render compliance with such requests absolutely im possible ; and we are compelled to answer all questions relating to photographic difficulties in these pages only. We hope our corre spondents will see that it is necessity, and no want of courtesy or of disposition to oblige, which compels this course, and renders us unable to send personal replies to letters on photographic questions. Several Correspondents in our next. Photographs AKegistere. Mr. W. APPLEYARD, Brighouse, York, Photograph of Hartishead Church. Messrs. Graham and SUTER, Leamington, Iahira Photographic Group of omders of the Second Warwickshirs Militia. Mr. A. Winterbon, Southampton, Photograph of Dr. Joseph Bullar.