No. 1 is prepared by placing hydrate of lime in a bottle, say to three quarts of the hydrate of lime, add one ounce of pulverized burnt alum, and as much chloride of lime as can be put on a quarter of a dollar, and from l5 to 30 grains of dry pulverized iodine, or enough to change the color of the hydrate of lime, to the slightest possible tinge of yellow.
There had better be less than carry the color to a deeper shade.
The object of using the iodine is to form a compound with bromine that is not so volatile as the bromine itself.
No matter how little iodine is combined with the bromine, the vapors possess their relative proportion; hence, only enough iodine to prevent "flaring," or as it is often termed a "scum-coating," is used. The iodine should be thoroughly combined with the lime, which will take about one or two days.
Should add bromine the same as in bromide of lime, until the compound assumes a light red color.
No. 2 is prepared in the same manner as No. 1, except the addition of the iodine, which is omitted.
Use.--No. 1. Coat over the iodine to a bright yellow color, then over the compound, No. 1, to red color, recoat over iodine, about one sixth as long, as the time occupied in first coating.
No. 2. Coat over iodine same as above, except recoat over the iodine about one fourth to one half as long as first coating.
Dry Quick, No. 1.--Bromide of Lime and Starch.--The following compound forms an excellent accelerator, and is used by many.
It is claimed for this preparation, that it will hold the bromine longer than others where starch is not employed.
As regards this claim we do not think it can be substantiated.
Our experience in practice has led us to the conclusion that there is no great difference as respects durability, but there is some little difference as regards the tone of the impressions produced by its use.
To one quart of hydrate of lime add one quart of finely pulverized starch.
To this mixture add bromine, until it assumes a deep yellow or pink color.
Starch may be added to any of the dry mixtures.
Use.--Coat over the iodine to a deep yellow, then over this quick to a red color, recoat about one sixth of the time of first coating.
I will here again remark, that the exact color of the coating is not essentially provided a proper proportion is preserved.
I have never seen it stated, though it be a fact worthy of note, that a proportionate time for coating over the iodine and accelerator, will not answer. For example: if a plate exposed to the vapor of iodine be perfectly coated in sixteen seconds, and then exposed to an accelerator, (not having iodine in its combination)receives its coating in four seconds, it will be found that a proper proportionate coating cannot be preserved by adopting, a proportion of time, but on the contrary, the time will diminish; for exposure over the accelerator, as in the above example, if it be desired to coat the plate with twice as much iodine as in the above example, the time would be, over iodine thirty-two seconds, and over the accelerator (to possess a proper proportion) from six to seven seconds.
Hence it is that many inexperienced operators, when wishing to vary their usual manner of coating, fail in producing a favorable result.
They coat calculating a proportion of time when they should not.
Dry Quick, No. 2.--Bromide of Lime and Magnesia.--To one quart of hydrate of lime add one quart of magnesia, and mix them well together; add bromine same as in preparing bromide of lime; coat the same as over dry quick No. 1.
This combination produces very uniform results, and is worked with much success by beginners.
Chloro-Bromide of Lime.--To the bromide of lime add chloride of bromine until the mixture becomes a pale yellow color, resembling sulphur.
It should be shook well, and enough of the chloride of bromine added to bring the compound to a deep blood red color.
Use.--Coat over the iodine to a pink color, and then over the above to a red, or just changing the color. It should be remembered that accelerators containing chlorine do not admit of a great change of color of coating on the plate.
Iodide of Starch.--This mixture can be employed for coating over in warm weather, and prevent the flashing resulting at high temperatures.
It may be used the same as the iodide alone.
To six ounces of finely pulverized starch, add one fourth ounce of dry iodine.
Use.--Same as the dry iodine alone.
The same combination may be made with lime, magnesia and other substances.
Concentrated Solution of Iodine for First Coating.--It may appear strange to some of our old operators that an aqueous solution of iodine can be used for coating the plate and forming the iodide of silver.
It has long been a cry among most operators that it is impossible to succeed when the iodine box contains dampness. Now this is a great mistake, and we will here state that in all cases where dampness appears upon a properly prepared Daguerreotype plate, it is the result of a different temperature of the metal from the air which surrounds it.
Mr. Senter, of Auburn, was the first of our operators who used a solution of iodine for coating the plate, and we several years since saw his results, which would rival the production of any other operator.
A concentrated solution of iodine is prepared by putting into a common bottle two thimblesful of hyposulphite of soda and a rather larger quantity of iodine, so that there may be more than sufficient.
Add to it about 40 ounces of common water (heated to 60 or 70 degrees), by little and little, moving, the bottle to warm it, for fear of breaking.
After shaking it a short time, the water is rapidly and strongly colored.
The solution should be poured into a bottle with a ground stopper, and when cool used for iodizing.
