Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-05-18

PLATE OF THE LARGEST CAMERA.
of which latter, however, there is not
much, and what there is circles the
horizon only Of a weu-shaped head.
His brownish-gray eyes are as kindly
as his soft voice. He is thoroughly
contcnted when at work in his studio
and loves to mingle with his appliances
in the shop just as an inventor loves to
test and operate a machine OF which he
is the happy author. Mr.. Smillie is an
expert on Photographic work, and
owing to his reputation was engaged
to take charge of the Photographic Of
fee when the organization was estab-
ished. He modestly asserts that he is
as yet only rudimentary worker, but
it can be said that he ranks as one of
the foremost of American photograph
.ers.
The camera shop is connected with
the Smithsonian institution, but is To-
Gated within the building occupied by
the national museum. The studio en-
braces number of rooms on the top
floor of the building, completely iso-
lated from the rest of the structure
and quite remote from the exhibits of
-curios. The quarters occupied are by
no means suitable for the work which
is done, but owing to the lack of funds
there has been no adequate provision
made for the enlargement and improve
ment of the present facilities. Several
blind doors shut off the sight of the
gallery from the communicating cOrri-
dors, and the gallery is only reached
after climbing a rather perpendicular
and perilous circular fight of iron
stairs. The room where the principal
work is done is occupied by the in
Vulnerable tools and appliances of the
workers, and affords anything but
an agreeable place to labor. II is
lighted by large sl1ylight, the roof of
which starts from the surrounding
walls, about five feet from the floor.
The room is therefore close and
Bquatty, and disagreeable in summer
on account of the heat, while it is un-
comfortable in the winter months on
account of the cold. There is also
number of windows or small doors on
the walls from which are built large
board platforms. On these the mega
tives are placed when the pictures are
being printed by exposure to the light.
Although the photographers have in
adequate and disagreeable quarters
their scientific appliances are said to be
the best obtainable. The institution is
fortunate, too, lie being the recipient of
valuable specimens of improvements,
which are donated by the manufacture
sers who desire them to be tested Off
cially, and great Importance is attached
to the opinion of the photographers at
this studio who examine the various
appliances and put them to the best
of cameras of all kinds, from the little
miniature plaything to the immense
tripod camera for use in taking pictures
and views of extensive landscapes and
large buildings. The largest camera in
the collection has a plate 25X30 inches.
To the visitor to the studio the most in
teresting figure in the collection is
small daguerreotype camera which was
presented to the National Photograph
ers' association, September 81, 1871, by
Prof. S. f. B. Morse, the well-known
inventor of the telegraph. That asso-
ciation was the prototype of the Photo
graphic association of to-day. The
former association ceased to exist a
few months after Prof. Morse made his
donation. Its history is very interest
ing, as it numbered among its member
ship nearly all of the early and famous
photographers of the country, and to
it is due much credit for the place
which photography holds to-day in the |
world of arts and refined mechanics. |