Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-19
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GASLIGHT.

It has often been a subject of comment
that while other arts have steadily ad.
vanced in development and kept gradually
approaching perfection, and In some in
stances reached it, the art of photography
has remained at a comparative standstlll.
The fact that artificial light has Just been
called into requisition with the most sue
cessful results in connection with it will,
therefore, go great way to remove that
apparently well-tounded reproach. Expert
ments in photography by gaslight, by
means of the patent burner invented by
MIR. Wigham, of the well-known firm OF
Messrs. Edmundson & Co., OF Capel street,
Dublin, were made last evening at Mr..
Netherlands studio, 70 Grafton street, and
certainly they must be described as highly
satisfactory III every respect The idea of
utilizing gas in this way originated with j.
Mcfarland, who, as a practical photog-
rapher, has studied every branch of his
profession with a closeness and an intensity
of interest almost bordering on enthusiasm.
The Dublin Alliance Gas Company are also
entitled to share of the credit due to the
discovery, for it was by attentively OBJ
serving the great Illuminating power OF the
lights placed in front of their office in
Grafton street that Mr.. McFarland's
inventive genius was turned into that
groove of thought which led to
the application of gas to such a
useful purpose. Mr.. Mcfarland felt, as
everybody III his line of business must
feel, how seriously the tickleness of sun
light affected his daily receipts, especially
in the winter season. He accordingly
placed himself in communication with
Messrs. Edmundson & Co., and the adap-
tation of Wigham's patent burner as an
efficient substitute was soon arranged.
The appliance is easily described. a
truncated cone, containing about forty
eight ordinary gas burners, closely packed
together, is placed within large circular
reflector. This cone is surmounted by a
false funnel, which, while fireproof, Gre
ates powerful draft. The gas is conduct
ed into the burners through pipe leading
from carbureter, where it is previously
purified, so that when ignited the flame as
intensely white. In its passage through
the carbureter the gas becomes charged
with carbon, and increased in illmi-
mating power. The ordinary gas sup
piled In Dublin is equal to about l6 can
dies, and by this simple process it is rem.
dered equal to 81 or 33 candles. The
saving thus effected in consumption is so
considerable that the quantity of gas con-
sumed on ga sitting is computed to cost
a fraction of penny. The reflector, which
is adjusted to turn in any direction, of
course is used to cast the light ON the
face of the sitter, and as the full fame is
only required during the brief period of
exposure" as it lis technically termed,
the waste of gas is inconsiderable. The
burners employed are the same as those
used in the Howth lighthouse, though Of
miniature dimensions, and the As are equal
to about 900 candles. By means of this
novel continuance cartes can be taken at
any hour, night or day, which is unques-
tionably an incalculable advantage both to
the artists, who will put money in their
purse thereby, and to the photo
loving" public, who will be spared
much anxiety and annoyance. The
likeness produced by gas light is
quite as good as those produced by the aid
of the natural luminary. Another novel
idea in this connection must be mentioned,
as it bids fair to introduce little revolu-
ton in an important branch of industry.
Mr.. Mcfarland is now enabled to produce
Christmas and Easter cards, which are
veritable photographs, embellished with
devices suitable to the particular season.
When people receive the counterfeit
presentment of their friends iRdelibly
imprinted on the customary card VITA
which they are all so familiar, they are
likely to treat the delicate reminder
with more ceremony than it usually re-
ceives. II Dublin Paper.