The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-07-27
A MAMMOTH PHOTOGRAPH.
1t Measures 80 Feet Inches by q
Feet II Inches.

At the recent Dresden exhibition
OF German civic life the Neue Photo
graphische Ges. Berlin Steglitz exhib
tied photograph which is said to be
the largest ever taken. This gigantic
| picture measures 80 feet inches by
feet III inches. The photograph rep.
resents the bay of Naples. and was
taken from Castel san Marino. the
| highest point behind Naples, from
which the eye commands the whole
city and bay as far as Mount vesuvius
and Capri. In order to secure as ex-
tensive panorama as possible, six
Inherent views on as many plates.
measuring 8.1x10.5 inches, were first
taken. From these six plates. which
were designed with view to being
connected to one another in a confirm.
Gus series. six enlargements, feet II
inches by 6 feet Z inches in size.
we're prepared by means of an appa-
ratus with a lens foot in diameter.
The enlargements were made directly
on silver bromide paper. The inher-
ent difficulty of connecting the single
overcome so successfully that it Is
practically impossible to detect the
boundary line Of arv two plates. Ac-
cording to their character, the six neg.
alive were exposed for UNEQUAL per-
iods. varying between one.half and
one-fourth hours
In order to develop the picture
huge wheel was made of specially pre-
pared wood. The wheel was 1912 feet
In diameter and 5.5 feet in width. the
periphery thus being Al feet. and con.
tanning 30 Stats intended for receiving
the Photographic paper There were
further used three large tanks. about
7OR cubic feet in capacity. intended
respectively for the developing. clear.
Ing and fixing solutions, acetic acid
and sodium hydrovde solutions. Each
tank could be shifted about on five
iron wheels moving along on rails
52.4S feet in length. A gigantic water
tank 49.2 feet in length. 5G6 feet in
width and 2.4G feet in height, having
total capacity as high as 476.6S feet,
was further used.
On account of the large developing
wheel employed, the paper was devel.
oped by night in the open air. Before
developing the picture the exposed
paper, fitted with a protecting cover
was laid over the Stats of the wheel.
The wheel was then set rotating. AS
1t turned it dipped the lower part of
the paper into the developing fluid.
The light portions were especially !
treated with sponges inpregnated with /
energetic developers. Portions whose
development was too rapid were
checked by means Of iced acetic acid
solutions. An iron oxalate developer
was used.
After first interrupting the devel-
oping process by projecting iced ace
tic acid on the photograph by means
OF hand pump the paper was con-
veyed into an acetic acid bath, where
the clearing process was completed
after 20 minutes time. The picture,
after an intense rinsing. was trans
ferred into the fixing bath, where It
remained three quarters of an hoUr.
After another rinsing the photograph
was transferred into the large wash
Ing. tank above mentioned, where It
for about eight hours, while .
q continuous supply and withdrawal
OF water took place. The total con-
sumption Of water used in washing
the print was about 1888 cubic feet.
After the water was drawn Off the
picture was stretched out on wooden
bars attached to the upper edge Of the
tank. where II remained for about 10
hours before 1t was completely dried. 1
Brooklyn Eagle.