LOADING THE CAMERA.
On the supposition that you have taken the advice given in the previous pages and purchased a film camera, we will first give you a few hints about loading with film.
With a Kodak this operation is performed in daylight and is very simple. The film is put up in light-tight rolls and extend ing the full length of the strip of film and several inches beyond each end is a strip of black paper, which, in conne6tion with the flanges on the spool, forms a light-proof cartridge.
After inserting the spool and threading up the black paper the camera is closed and the kev turned until the black paper has been reeled off and the sensitive film brought into place in the focal plane. The black paper runs with and behind the film, and at proper intervals is marked in white with the number of the section of film, i, 2, 3, etc. In the back of the camera is a small red window through which the figures appear as the key is turned. Turn the key slowly to the left and watch the little red celluloid window at the back of the camera. When 15 to IS turns have been given a hand pointing toward the first num ber will appear, then turn slowly until the figure i is in front of the red window. Fig. i.
The warning hand appears only before No. 1. These figures show just how far to turn the key and how many exposures have been made. After all the exposures have been made, a few extra turns of the key entirely covers the film with black paper and the camera may be unloaded in daylight.
It is all as simple as threading a needle (simpler for a man) and with each camera is a manual telling plainly about each step. The amateur must bear constantly in mind, however, that the black paper must be kept tightly rolled about the film all of the time until it is in place in the camera and the camera closed, for should the film be exposed to daylight for even a hundredth part of a second its ruin would be accomplished.
In the 372 x 373, 3y. x 4Y and 4 x 5 sizes Film Cartridges may now be obtained for " Double-Two," six or twelve exposures. 3 x 57.,, may
be had in " Double-Two," six and ten, and 4.1/ x 6Y., and 5 x 7 in " Double-Two," and six exposure cartridges. The " Double-Two " car tridges contain four exposures, so arranged, however, that two of them may be removed after exposure, or, if desired, the entire four exposures may be made before taking out cartridges.
For loading with glass plates a dark-room is essential, that is, a room from which all white light has been excluded as described on page Sr. Provide also a dark-room lamp, a camel's hair brush and a shelf or table on which to work. Remove the dark slides 'from the plate holders and, having closed every avenue for the entrance of white light and lighted the dark-room lamp, open the box of plates.
Take one of the plates from the box and put it in the holder face up, handling the plate by the edges. (The face is the dull side.) Dust with the camel's hair brush and insert the dark slide with the word " exposed" next the plate. Now turn the holder over, if it is a double holder, and load the other side in a similar manner. When all the plate holders have been filled close up the remaining plates in the box, wrap them up securely or put away in a dark drawer.
By use of the Premo Film Pack the ordinary plate camera is trans formed into a daylight loading film camera with the advantage of focusing on the ground glass the same as when using plates. This pack consists of twelve flat cut films packed together in a light proof paper case. Attached to each film is a paper tab, the end of which is numbered, thus showing the operator just which film is in position for exposure. The method of using this pack is extremely simple, as the only movement necessary in placing the film in position for the next exposure is to simply pull out a tab.