New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-18
CINEMATOGRAPHIC RISKS.
THE APPARATUS FOR SHOWING AMI
MATED PICTURES NOT PERFECT.

ORIGINATED-CAR USE OF AN EITHER
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FILMS.
Prior to the appalling disaster at the Charity
Bazaar in Paris about two months ago. in which
q hundred more lives were lost. public atten-
ton had not been called to certain dangers con
hected with the of the apparatus variously
known as the "cinematograph' "veriscope and
Telegraph" Since that time however the mat
ter has received a good deal of discussion IN
Photographic journals. and steps have already
been taken which partially lessen the perils re-
ferred to.
In ordinary magic lantern, or projecting
lantern" the general arrangement OF the vital
features is as follows: First there is some source
OF light; second. lens (known as the "conden-
SER which concentrates the rays into stralght
pencil: third. pair of grooves in when the
glass Slide" bearing the picture is temporarily
held in place, immersed in the stream or light.
and lastly. another lens which magniiies the
image and which may be shifted toward or away
from the lantern in order to focus the picture
sharply on the screen where it becomes visible
to the spectators This second lens is mounted
in the outer end of short brass tube that sticks
out horizontally in front of the lantern. The
slit into which the slides thrust pierces TINS
tube few inches behind the magnifying lens.
THE OLD AND NEW LIME LIGHT.
Between this apparatus and that originally
used with the cinematoSraph there was but one
essential difference. A long. flexible, transpar-
ent film. bearing a series of pictures, and wound
on tiny reel was TO be fed through the slit
where the glass slide formerly introduced.
At first the strip went through the tube horizon
tally from one side. 1t is now deemed more con-
venient to run it through vertically from above
In either case. hswever. a small, quck-actlor
shutter is employed in the tube in front of the
film alternately covering the aperture while the
STRIP is moving. and theI, flying out of the way
when the film is stationary for the display OF
picture These alterations occur at the rate OF
fifty or sixty a second.
Tho Paris catastrophe resulted from careless
ness which might have been shown with an
ordinary projecting lantern. and not directly
from the attempt to produce animated pictures.
The light was furnished for the instrument in
service at the Charity Bazaar by modern sub
stitute for the oxyhydrogen light The old way
of rendering lime pencil incandescent was to
force jets of blazing oxygen and hydrogen
Grom different bags or cylinders directly upon
it, About four or five years ago it was found
that the vapor of ether was available as SUD-
stitute for hydrogen. and cheaper.
cupful of liquid ether poured into
tightly closed metal receptacle which had first
been loosely filled with cotton wool. This device
was known as a "saturator" small spout
permitted the vapor TO escape in a jet which
played on the lime pencil, and which there met
another jet from the oxygen supply tank Inc
saturater would hold enough ether to last two
or three hours, much longer than a lantern show
usually continues. Where. however, frequent
exhibitions are being given. as at a fair it is
necessary to refill the saturator ever 50 often
At the Charity Bazaar the operator in charge
neglected the usual precaution Of eXtinguishlng
adjacent lights while filling his saturator. The
vapor from open cup which he used in per-
forming this task consequently took fire.
slight explosion occurred. and some light and in
namrnablc draperies in the booth We're instantly
ignited The rest Of the story the readers OF
The Tribune remember only too we'll
ELECTRIC LIGHTS PREFERRED.
The Lumiere Brothers, known the world over
for their experiments in photography and for
the manufacture of pinot Dgraphc apparatus
we're the first to introduce the cinemat Ograph in
France They did not furnish operate the in
strument used at the Charity Bazaar. Whether
they ever made of the ether saturator at all
is not quite clear, but it is not unlikely that they
both produced and sold t. their customers this
particular device. However this may be. the!
now take pains to advertise that their cine
rnatograph is furnished with electric light only
and therefore is much safer than the apparatus
marketed by irresponsible imitators. Tn variety
,baatros in NeW.-YOrk which have been exhibit
ing animated pictures by means Of bographs
ond erfscopes have never used any other light.
In fact. the electric-arc appears to be neces-
=: Ioro. b.lls IL = only in small places that