ACCESSORY APPARATUS.
that the advice given in the previous chapters has been acted upon, and that camera, lens, and tripod stand have been selected, we may now turn our attention to the various minor appar4us which it will be necessary to purchase before we shall be ready for work.
A focussing cloth will be required. Velveteen makes a good one, or black twill may be used, but in the latter case the material must be used double, in order to get sufficient opacity. cloth or thin mackintosh is sometimes recommended ; but I cannot advise its use, for in hot weather the heat is unbearable, and the perspiration from the body condenses on the ground-glass and interferes with focussing. Whatever the material, the focussing cloth should be of good size, say, 3 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft.
A case of some kind, to contain the camera and slides and other apparatus necessary for use in the field, must be obtained. These are generally made of leather, waterproof cloth, or canvas. The latter are far to be preferred in that they are very much the lighter. A leather case is, of course, more durable, and affords greater protection to the apparatus ; but, on the other hand, it will very often weigh as much as the camera itself, and will, Consequently, add very much to the fatigue of carrying the apparatus. A light collapsible case of either waterproof cloth or canvas should therefore be chosen, care being taken to have it fitted with a reliable lock. Make it an invariable rule never to leave the case unlocked, for it should not be forgotten that servants and children, and sometimes more responsible individuals, are frequently of an inquisitive turn of mind ; but if the above precaution be taken much disappointment and annoyance will be avoided.
A non-actinic lantern will be required, patterns of which are shown in figs. 8 and 9. It is immaterial which is selected. Do not, however, choose too small a one, or the combustion will be imperfect. For travelling purposes one of the folding pattern lamps will be the most convenient, in which coloured fabric takes the place of ruby glass. These are triangular
in shape, and pack quite flat (fig. 10).
The various manipulations, which the sensitive plates and papers used by the photographer undergo before they become finished pictures, are usually carried out in shallow dishes, or trays, which are constructed of various materials. It will be necessary, therefore, to purchase several of these of different sizes. Each dish should be reserved for one particular purpose. One of the so-called secrets of success in photo graphy is the observance of strict cleanliness in all the operations, and the avoidance of the least mixing or con Lamination of one chemical with another ; the slightest trace of a foreign substance in some of the solutions will be fatal to good results. We shall require one black half-plate ebonite tray for developing our negatives, and one white one of the same size to be only used for a process, hereafter to be described, called intensification. A deep white porcelain dish, 8 by 5, will also be wanted to contain the fixing bath. I recommend different materials and colours, as the beginner will then get accustomed to using a particular dish for a particular purpose, and will be less likely to make mistakes. He will also require, for the various operations connected -with printing from the negatives, four 10 by 8 deep porcelain dishes. Purchase at the same time a bottle of " artist's black," and with a small brush write on the outside edges of each dish one of these inscriptions ; this will aid in keeping each dish to its proper use :—(1) Toning dish, (2) Washing dish, (3) Fixing dish, (4) Fixing dish for bromides.
A zinc plate washing tank, with grooves to hold the plates vertically, and a syphon to carry off the contaminated water from below the plates, is a very great convenience, if not a necessity ; the price will be about six shillings. A cheaper but less satisfactory method of washing negatives is to place them face upwards, in a large porcelain dish, changing the water at frequent intervals.