Albumen printing & Richeson 9010 Brush, UK supplier?

[Neil Miller]

Hello! I am trying to coat albumen paper with silver solution, but am having trouble. I have found that I cannot coat evenly with the hake or foam brushes that I have, and I can't get the knack of using a glass rod (although I have had nearly acceptable results with the rod, I can't master the technique to my satisfaction).

I have heard a lot about the Richeson "magic" brushes and i wondered if anyone had used them for albumen/silver? I have tried searching the web for a UK supplier but have had no luck. I also tried sending an email to Jack Richeson's company in the US, but did not get a reply.

I know I could float the paper, but am on a limited budget and want to make the silver solution go a long way! Also, the paper I am using - Cranes - curls up spectacularly when it is wetted, so I am taping the paper flat for the sensitiser-coating stage, which rules out floating it on a silver bath.

Thanks for any help,
Neil.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The traditional method of coating albumen paper is to float it in a tray. The emulsion has to be applied to the paper in one smooth motion or you will get wicking effects. My impression from those who have tried it is that it is just not possible with a brush--you'll always get brush marks. Some have had success with a coating rod.

I float, and it works for the most part. What I do is steam the albuminized paper over a kettle until it is supple and then roll it albumen side out and let it sit that way for a few minutes in the core of a paper towel roll. Wearing nitrile gloves, eye protection, and an apron, I check the tray for bubbles and push any to the side with a strip of scrap paper, then I hold the far edge of the paper between my thumb and index finger close to the nitrate solution with my other fingers resting on the far edge of the tray, then release the paper and float it on the solution in one motion, making sure the edges are in contact with the solution and that the solution doesn't get on the back of the paper. After three minutes, I pull it out smoothly, drain the excess over the tray, and hang it on the line to dry with two clothespins.

One-ply paper is much easier to work with than heavier paper. I use Strathmore 500 1-ply. I've experimented with two-ply and gotten some good ones, but the rejection rate seems higher. Maybe with practice one could get the hang of it, but almost all traditional albumen prints are on thin paper. Here's a 4x5" on 2-ply--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

To make the silver solution go a long way, get some kaolin to clear the used solution, decant, and reuse it. The process is described in Reilly's book.

 

[roy]

Should you still be looking for a brush Neil, I got one from "Cheap Joe's Art Stuff" in America. Don't know if there is any outlet in UK.

 

[Neil Miller]

Thanks David and Roy! I guess I will have to order one from America.

I'm still interested to hear if anyone has used one for brush sensitising albumen, though!

Regards,
Neil.