The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-21
REMARKABLE INVENTION.
Som ethinp Startling for Lovers OF Amate,
photOgrauhy.


Photography.
Amateur photography has made an
other long stride forward. Hitherto
the only means Of photographing at
night have been by means of the kero-
sene, or calcium, or electric lights. All
Of these demanded more or less para
phernalia and were not portable to any
available degree. Magnesia wire. when
burned, was known to produce q light
of strong actinic quality. and lamp
had been devised with which to burn it
for Photographic purposes. 1t was not
satisfactory light, however, as 1t was
unsteady and liable to go out. From
magnesium. however. DR.. IL. G. Piifard
has devised exactly the thing desired,
and he recently explained his inven.
ton.
1t consists in powdered magnesium
spread upon gun-cotton. The ignition
of gun-cotton furnishes the heat neces-
sary to set fire to the magnesium, and
the result is q brilliant flash, powerful
enough to sufficiently expose the plate,
and easily available under any circum-
stances. The photograph is instant sne-
Gus. The doctor first discussed Ger
man powder invented for the purpose.
stating that while its light effects were
excellent, its very explosive quality
made it dangerous article either to
handle or have about. He next dis
cussed and exhibited u mixture of four
parts of gunpowder and one part of
magnesium, which. when flashed, an
swered the purpose desired. 1t was
neither as convenient nor effective,
however, as the gun-cotton combination.
After burning samples Of these and
showing their effects. hc fred a cart
ridge of magnesium and gun-cotton
from an ordinary revolver. showing
that the flash was quite sufficient for an
instantaneous photograph. He then
proceeded to darken the room and to
photograph Mr.. Robert Roosevelt. The
camera was adjusted, and as the cap
was removed the doctor touched a
match to a small piece of powdered
cotton. The light flashed in the dark
ness, and when, some minutes later, the
developed plate appeared. an excellent
negative of Mr.. Roosevelt was the re.
suit. Several portraits taken the night
before,were exhibited, and the practical
value of the invention was indisputa bly,
established.
The result will be that the amateur
photographer will henceforth go {
cunning in the darkness and lay out or
Il plate every thing he may choose tc
shoot at. The cnmera will be fitted t.
n pistol barrel or the pistol barrel t.
the camera and cooking the weapon
will expose tho plate. AS soon as the
weapon is aimed the flash from thu
muzzle will instantly serve to photo
graph the object and the game will b.
securely bngged in Il moment. Tht
fleeing thief. the expression of the maj
who treads upon the unforeseen carpet
tack, as we'll as that of the husband
out late who is trying to assume an ex
preston OF Indifferent sobriety before
he lights the domestic gas, will nov
adorn the albums, where they hav
hitherto been unknown. The inven
ton is valuable commercially, one pho
tographer stating that he had con
cluded to make use of it in his gal
lery. 1t will also greatly widen th
fields of amusement and experimen
which have attracted some thousand
to amateur photography. Philadelphia
Evening Telegram.