The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-21

plates, in which such success las been
eventually attained that now an expos
ure for the infnitesimal part Of sec
Ohd is as effective as that Of half min
ute was less than decade ago. Now
dry plates are universally used for por-
traiture, landscapes, instantaneous %
views, etc.
When the sensitiveness Of the dry
plates had been perfected in 1880, they
were still defective in the very import
ant particular that they would not stand
the heat Of our climate. At tempera-
ture of s. dogs their gelatine was liable
to "frill, blister" and even melt quite
off the plate, so that it was necessary IN
summer to keep them cool with ice T.
G. Roche. after long and dishcartening
series Of experiments. finally by sheer
accident hit upon gelatine coating that
could not be melted of with boiling
water or even by the heat Of a Bmsen
burner, and his discovery is in general
use today, without any more benefit 10
him than any other of his many inycn-
lions from which others have reaped
great fortunes and he nothing. About
the same time that lac made this import
ant discovery, or perhaps little before,
Mr.. Roche conceived the idea Of apply
ing to paper for contact printing or ex
posing in the solar camera a gclatine
emulsion similar to that employed in
coating the dry plates. This was for en-
largements for crayon work. lie was so
successful that lie produced paper so
sensitive that it could not be used in the
solar camera, and had 10 be worked by
artificial light to keep it under control
Before large number Of photographers
assembled in the Cooper Institute be
made pictures upon it by the flash Of a
pinch Of gun cotton. The English "pla-
linotype" paper, invented by Mr.. Willis
was already in existence, and was ac-
bnowledged as giving very fine results.
but it was slow, required the use Of the
solar camera Ia very costly instrmcnt
and could not be used on dull days Mr.
Roche's discovery did away with the
solar camera altogether, and with his
paper the work OF enlargement could be
done in a cellar by candle light. The
importance Of it may easily be imagined
But that invention, like all the rest, was
clutched from the old man, who is the
typical inventor par excellence in his
inability to look out for his own interests
T. G.. Roche has had more ,aluabl,
patents in photography taken ont in his
name than any other man in the United
States. and has freely given away more
discoveries than any other. Indeed, d
would be correct TO say that Doe has given
away all that his rare genius and ability
have attained. and others have become
wealthy on them while he has grown
old and poor in all but the regard in
which he is held by the Photographic
world.
It is worthy Of mention as q romarha.
bic fact that in all the United States and
Great Britain not an inch Of paper h.
made fit for Photographic uses. The
worlds supply comes altogether from
France and Germany and commands %
high price This is something for om
many American paper makers 10 chew
upon and reproach themselves for.
1t is not apparent why they should NOT
make quite as good a paper Of any spc
cifc kind as can be produced I'm Europe
And another fact that goes withitistlni
only the finest French and Swiss CELIA
tine can be used. Not an ounce that j.
suitable for the uses Of the manufacturer
of Photographic material IS produced H.
the United States. Cannot some of the
big barons of Slaughter, ont IN Chicago
take this hint for the utilization in most
profitable fashion of material that they
have in excess and so start another Gin
FAINT industry" that will very promptly
stand upon its OWN feet?
II is hardly worth while 90 more than
recall the horde Of various type" that
were brought out in the early days OF
photography. Pretty much every able
photographer got up some novelty Of biz
own under peculiar name, for which
he, Of course, claimed superiority Over
all others. and very often the same pro
cess had different names in different
cities.
Thus "ambrotypcs," "ivorytypes,
''hallotypes," "melaniotypcs," "ferro
types" ETC., camo into popular know
ledge They were generally returns
from photography in the direction Of the
iaguerreotype, in that they were singly
produced and not Photographic prints
rom negatives, and while the processes
Tor their production differed in details.
he general principle was the same, o.
inder developed negatives converted
nto positives 10y Opaque backing.
There are now not less than 1000 pro.
essional photographers in tho United
states engaged in and dependent mainly
lpon portrait taking as business. This
s. indeed. deemed a low estimate by
ONE of the dealers in supplies. who pre-
have a right to somewhat au
horitative opinion. Then there are about
800 engaged in the various processes OF
printing, or the prep
ration Of plates and blocks. by photo
graphic aid, for printing and it is rather
angular that so distinct are NOW those
wo branches Of photography that it Il
are to find person expert in one who
S Of the slightest service in the other.
In closing this review Of the art Of sun
picture making. merely by the salient
POINTS in its history, which is all that
pace will permit. and bringing it down
o the present time, it seems well TO pre-
ent condensed table Of the great steps
n progress, showing the advance that
las been made in reduction Of time o.
Exposure:
So photography "copper" plate
and ASPHALT. Niepce .... G TO hours
SO Dagueucotype Cooper sil-
yer plated, Daguerre 80 minutes
Su-CalOtype (iOdized silver 10
paper, Fox Talbot .......3 70 minutes
S5i-Collodion process (collodion
bromo-iodized. with nitrate
OF silver. on glass; used
vet. Scott-Archer .......lO 10 ~ seconds
ss9-Gelatine emulsion (br0mido
Of silver and geiatue on
glass used dry ...........i second
SSg-Similar gelatine coated
plates. excessively sensi-