E. Mason

The piece of apparatus described and illustrated be-low is one, the use of which by many photographers, means dispensing with the dark room altogether. A dark room, to most, is necessary only for the changing of slides and cameras with light sensitive plates or films, for negative and positive development, and a few supplementary operations rarely required. All these operations can be conducted with greater ease and comfort by the use of the changing and developing box.

Fig. 1.

The dimensions of the box when folded are 15 x 12 x 2 1/2 in.; erected for use its outside dimensions are 15 x 12 x 11 14 in. The wood may be 1/4 in. mahogany, walnut, or gum wood. The following pieces are required: Base, 14 1/2xll 1/2 in.; two sides, each 14 1/2x11 in.; two ends, 11 1/4 11 1/2 in.; top, 14 x 11 1/4 in.; two mouldings, 15 x 2 1/2 in.; two mouldings, 12 x 2 1/2 in. There will also be wanted two brass strips, 13 1/2 in x 3/4 in. wide, as shown in Fig. 1. One inch at each end of these there is turned at right angles and has a hole drilled a quarter of an inch from the end, which engages with a slightly projecting pin on one side of the case. The brass strips act in two ways - they preclude any possibility of light entering at the junction of the top and ends, and when the ends are pushed home lock all the parts together.

The sides have a | in. groove across each end and top, and cut 1/8 in. from the edge, the top and ends having an 1/8 in. tongue to slide in, the same as shown in Fig. 2. One side piece is hinged directly to the base. A strip, 14 1/2x3/ in., is cut off the other side, and this is glued along the base inside and close to the moulding (see Fig 4). The object is to raise the side so that it will fold flat on top of the other side piece and sleeve.

The sleeve apartures are each 6 in. in diameter for sleeves 7x4 in. The sleeves are made of one thickness of "Ruby Christia," between two of black silesia. A rubber band is sewn in to grip round the arms. The flexible band to go across the eyes is made of moderately thick chamois (wash) leather. The window is made of one thickness each of ruby and canary fabric.

The outside of the case may be polished, but the inside must be finished dead black. In the size given I can develop whole plates.

Raising the sides, the top and window end are slipped in their respeective grooves. After pouring out the developer required, the measure containing it is placed inside against the window with any other solution that may be required alongside. Then follows a half-plate porcelain dish containing the fixing bath, covered with a light-tight lid; on the top of this stands the xylyn-ite developing dish, also with a light-tight cover. After inserting the dark slide with the exposed plates, the remaining side is pushed home, making the whole case as solid as a block of wood. The eye sleeve is adjusted and the hands inserted so thst the sleeves go up under the wearer's coat sleeves. As I use the time system I also place my watch in one corner of the case where it can be easily seen, and then if development is likely to be long, after placing on the cover, I withdraw my hands, remove the eye-shade, and simply rock the case slightly until development is complete. When finished the negative is placed in the fixing bath, covered with the lid, the end slipped up, and the dishes, etc., washed. A duplicate fixing bath may then be inserted, and the whole procedure gone through with the next plate. Two fixing baths I find sufficient, using them alternately.

Development with such a piece of apparatus may be conducted anywhere, at any time. When not in use it occupies little space, and, being light, may be carried on tour, making the owner independent of doubtful "dark rooms." A great consideration is that the mouth and nostrils are outside, so that one does not have to go on breathing contaminated air.

My recommendation, in conclusion, is to use an exposure-meter, to develop with a standard developer by the time system, to abolish the dark room, and with it one-half of the photographic worry will have forever disappeared. As a photographer, the sole trouble should be to discover a suitable subject, the correct lighting, and the most suitable view point. When found, the rest is easy, or should be if modem methods are adopted.

The case can, of course, be made larger or smaller to suit the size of plates generally used.-" The Photo-American."