Modern large format roll-film cameras

[Craig]

Judging by the number of different enlargers avaialble in 1898

What would they use for a light source? In 1898 electricity certainly wasn't widespread and bulbs were in their infancy too, as the tungsten filament wasn't invented until 1904.

Gaslight seems awfully dangerous when mixed with a nitrocellulose film base.

 

[Ian Grant]

What would they use for a light source? In 1898 electricity certainly wasn't widespread and bulbs were in their infancy too, as the tungsten filament wasn't invented until 1904.

Gaslight seems awfully dangerous when mixed with a nitrocellulose film base.

Hi Craig, from an 1898 Advert, "fitted Complete with a with a new form Rod and Tube for either Incandescent Gas Burner or for Limelight. Also now available with Oil Lamp." Another manufacturer says Incandescent Light, Acetylene Jets, or Limelight Jets, the price list says Incandescent Burner.

My Houghton King enlarger has the built in tray and chimney but had been converted to electric with a fitting allowing adjustment and obviously made specifically to fit all similar enlargers.

Photography was dangerous back in the 19th Century, there were deaths from poisoning in the wet plate era, injuries using flash powder, and the risk of fire. There was also a lot of dermatitis from impure Metol. Somewhere in one of my books there's an article on the hazardous nature of early professional photography, there was quite a high death rate.

These days we are far more safety conscious and rarely use some of the more toxic chemicals used in the Victorian era, Cyanide, Mercury Chloride etc.

Ian

 

[Donald Qualls]

And still, dry plates and early cellulose nitrate film were a big improvement over handling ether-based collodion by the open flame of candle light or oil lamp, as was the case in the 1860s. It amazed me that anyone using collodion wet plates or tintype in that era before any kind of electric light managed not to burn their darkroom down (a fire that would be very, very quick, likely inescapable). Not to mention the tendency for ether to form crystals of an explosive peroxide around the stopper in storage (this has been the cause for evacuation and bomb squad calls in numerous high school chemistry labs over the latter half of the 20th century) -- friction-sensitive explosive that can detonate from trying to open the ether can.

With modern materials, you can work in a darkroom for years and never handle anything more hazardous than rapid fixer (don't drink it, keep it out of your eyes, but otherwise pretty tame stuff). Now, if you like archival toning or the tonal change produced, you have to deal with selenium toner -- but that's still less hazardous than blowing yourself up.