344 



RECREATION 



dissolving the various chemicals can be 

 driven off, it will at least help matters a 

 good deal. 



Dissolve first the active agent, pyro, metol 

 or whatever it may be. After that add the 

 preservative, sulphite of soda in most cases; 

 and after that has dissolved add the accel- 

 erator, sal soda, carbonate of potash, or 

 caustic soda. 



A simple experiment will show that this 

 is the best way of proceeding, for if we 

 add a bit of pyro or metol to a solution of 

 sal soda, the solution turns dark at once, 

 showing that the pyro is oxidized and its 

 strength gone. By first adding the preserv- 

 ative, sulphite of soda, we check this action 

 to a great extent and thus keep the strength 

 of the developer unimpaired for some time. 



As an additional means of preserving 

 mixed developer, it should be put in bottles 

 holding only 3 or 4 ounces each, and filled 

 to the cork, so that no air space is left. 

 It is well, also, in case the developer is to 

 be kept some time, to dip the tops of the 

 filled and corked bottles in melted paraffin, 

 thus forming an airtight seal over the 

 corks. 



C. M. Whitney, Bayonne, N. J. 



TO AVOID PINHOLES. 



Time and again I see in Recreation state- 

 ments regarding the difficulty amateur pho- 

 tographers experience in avoiding pinholes 

 in their negatives. I also notice that al- 

 though all sorts of preventives are recom- 

 mended, none of them seems to be the 

 right thing. For instance, we are advised 

 to soak plates before developing; again not 

 to wet them in water previously, but to 

 pour the developer over plate with one 

 sweep ; then again to dust plates before 

 loading plate holders and before develop- 

 ing ; while others blame the plate manu- 

 facturers and recommend trying some 

 other brand. 



Plate holders and the film side of plates 

 should be carefully dusted before loading. 

 In spite of such precaution, round, trans- 

 parent spots, due to air bubbles, often ap- 

 pear on any make of plate, unless the 

 bubbles which form when developer first 

 comes in contact with film are immediately 

 removed. This can be done with a tuft of 

 cotton, but I find that a brush answers the 

 purpose much better and there is no danger 

 of any threads adhering to film and dry- 

 ing thereon unnoticed. I advise all who 

 have trouble with pin holes in their nega- 

 tives to supply themselves with a \Vi or 

 2 inch camels' hair brush, rubber bound 

 preferably, and as soon as the plate is slid 

 into developer run brush back and forth 

 cleap to edge half a dozen times. Then 

 continue developing and when negative is 

 (':;■ there will be no pin holes. The brush 



should be thoroughly washed after through 

 developing. Otherwise alkali in developer 

 will destroy the hair. Hang the brush up 

 to drain dry, and never use it for any 

 other purpose. 



H. A. Kalkman, Newport, R. I. 



SNAP SHOTS. 

 Will you please tell me, through Recrea- 

 tion, what is the percentage strength of 

 No. 8 acetic acid? 



When a formula is given and it does not 

 specify powder or crystals, what am I to 

 understand? 



H. M. G., Syracuse, N. Y. 



ANSWER. 



Acetic acid No. 8 contains 36 per cent, 

 pure acetic acid. 



If sodium carbonate and sodium sulphite 

 are the chemicals in mind, the crystals arc 

 meant in formulae when it is not other- 

 wise stated. — Editor. 



Dr. R. L. Wadhams, of Wilkes-Barre, in 

 March Recreation, explains one way to 

 prevent prints sticking to the ferrotype. 

 Here is another : 



Clean the plate with wood alcohol and 

 dry it so it will be slightly warm. Then 

 with a piece of refined paraffin wax rub the 

 plate until it shows a uniform white coat- 

 ing. Rub off this coating with a soft cloth 

 and polish with soft white flannel. ■ 



This treatment imparts a high polish to 

 the prints. 



•A. C. Pope, North Tonawanda, N. Y. 



A hunting jacket, a revolver, a camera, a 

 pair of gloves, a pair of skates or a pair 

 of opera glasses would make an appropri- 

 ate Christmas present for any man or boy 

 who is fond of outdoor sport. The skates 

 or the opera glasses would also please any 

 girl who is fond of skating or of the thea- 

 tre, and this means all girls. You can 

 get any of these articles by securing a 

 few yearly subscriptions to Recreation and 

 sending them in. See premium list in this 

 issue of Recreation. 



The 9th Annual Photo Competition 

 closes November 30. The time is growing 

 short in which to make and enter pictures, 

 and I trust all who have participated in 

 previous competitions may be represented 

 in this one. A number of valuable prize- 

 are offered, and in addition to these all 

 photos used will hereafter be paid for at 

 the rate of 50 cents to $t each, according 

 to actual value for illustrative purposes. 



Do not fail to read the announcement 1 I 

 Recreation's Drawing Contest on p.tge 3; 



