Overview:
This handbook, originally published in 1858, was a vital resource for anyone interested in the Daguerreotype art form. Author S.D. Humphrey, an experienced operator, provides detailed instructions and practical advice for achieving high-quality images. The book covers the entire process from plate polishing and coating to developing, gilding, and even coloring the images. It also includes insights into the historical context of the Daguerreotype, with an account of Wolcott and Johnson’s early experiments.
Humphrey emphasizes the importance of meticulous preparation and a thorough understanding of the chemical processes involved. He addresses common issues like blue pictures, specks, and uneven coatings, offering solutions based on his extensive experience. The book delves into the properties of various chemicals used in Daguerreotype, such as iodine, bromine, and chlorine, explaining their role in image formation and how to use them effectively.
Key Findings:
- Importance of Plate Preparation: Proper polishing and buffing are crucial for achieving a sensitive and even surface for image capture.
- Chemical Combinations: The precise proportions of iodine, bromine, and other chemicals significantly impact image tone and sharpness.
- Light and Temperature: Variations in light and temperature affect exposure times and image quality.
- Mercury and Development: The use of mercury vapors for image development is described in detail, along with the importance of proper temperature control.
- Gilding Process: Gilding, or fixing the image with gold, is a crucial step for achieving lasting brilliance and enhancing image depth.
- Historical Context: The early experiments by Wolcott and Johnson highlight the process of refinement and innovation in the Daguerreotype field.
Learning:
- The Daguerreotype Process: Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in creating a Daguerreotype, from plate preparation to final image enhancement.
- Chemical Properties: The book provides detailed information about the chemical compounds used in Daguerreotype, their properties, and how they interact with light and silver.
- Light and Optics: Readers will learn about the properties of light, its decomposition, and how lenses and reflectors work to create images in the camera.
- Troubleshooting: The book offers practical advice on diagnosing and resolving common problems faced by Daguerreotype operators.
- Historical Significance: Readers will gain insight into the early development of the Daguerreotype art form, including the contributions of key pioneers.
Historical Context: The text was written in 1858, during a period of rapid technological development and growing popularity of photography. The Daguerreotype process, though relatively new, was already undergoing refinement and adaptation, with new techniques and chemical combinations being developed.
Facts:
- Bromine Discovery: Bromine was discovered in 1826 by M. Balard in the residue of sea-water evaporation.
- Bromine Use in Photography: Bromine’s use as an accelerating agent in Daguerreotype was pioneered by John Goddard of London.
- Bromine Properties: Bromine is a volatile, reddish-brown liquid with a strong, offensive odor.
- Iodine Discovery: Iodine was discovered in 1812 by M. Courtois, a saltpetre manufacturer.
- Iodine Sources: Iodine is found in sea-water, seaweed, and mineral springs.
- Iodine Properties: Iodine is a dark-grey solid with a metallic lustre, which melts into a brown liquid and boils at about 356 degrees.
- Chlorine Discovery: Chlorine was discovered in 1774 by Swedish chemist Scheele.
- Chlorine Use in Photography: Chlorine was used to accelerate Daguerreotype exposure in the 1840s by John Goddard, Wolcott & Johnson, and others.
- Chlorine Properties: Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas with a suffocating odor and is poisonous.
- Cyanide of Potassium: Cyanide of Potassium is a highly toxic chemical used in several Daguerreotype processes.
- Hyposulphite of Soda: Hyposulphite of Soda is a key chemical used to dissolve the sensitive silver salt on the Daguerreotype plate.
- Hyposulphite of Gold: Hyposulphite of Gold is used as a less aggressive gilding solution than chloride of gold.
- Nitric Acid: Nitric Acid is a powerful oxidizing agent used in Daguerreotype for dissolving silver and preparing chloride of gold.
- Nitro-Muriatic Acid (Aqua Regia): This acid mixture is used to dissolve gold and platinum.
- Hydrochloric Acid: This acid is used in Daguerreotype for dissolving gold and preparing chloride of bromine.
- Hydrofluoric Acid: This acid is extremely corrosive and used in accelerators for its fluorine content.
- Sulphuric Acid: This acid is used in the galvanic battery and some accelerators.
- Lime Water Quick: This mixture is a common liquid accelerator used in Daguerreotype.
- Wolcott’s American Mixture: This mixture, containing nitric and muriatic acids, was a well-known accelerator used in early Daguerreotype.
- Hydrate of Lime: Hydrate of Lime, or slaked lime, is a crucial component of many dry accelerators.
Statistics:
- Iodine Solubility: 7000 parts of water are needed to dissolve one part of iodine.
- Bromine Density: Bromine is one of the heaviest liquids known with a specific gravity of 3.
- Chlorine Density: Chlorine is one of the heaviest gases with a density of 2.47.
- Sulphuric Acid Density: Sulphuric Acid has a specific gravity of 1.8.
- Wolcott’s Mixture: This mixture contains one part bromine, eight parts nitric acid, and sixteen parts muriatic acid.
- Silvering Solution: This solution requires 1 part chloride of silver and 4 parts hyposulphite of soda dissolved in equal quantities of water.
- Silver plating cost (1840): A pound of pure silver-plated metal cost $9 in 1840.
- Silver plating cost (1858): A pound of pure silver-plated metal cost $4 in 1858.
- Time for sitting (1840): Using Wolcott’s reflecting apparatus, sittings could take six to ten minutes.
- Time for sitting (1842): With Wolcott’s mixture, sittings could be shortened to one minute.
- Time for sitting (1851): A 1851 article mentions a combination of chemicals that could reduce sitting times to 3-10 seconds.
- Mercury Temperature: Humphrey recommends heating mercury to a point where it takes 6-8 minutes to develop an image.
- Plate Sensitivity: A galvanized plate is five times more sensitive to light than an ungalvanized plate.
- Exposure Time (1845): Hewett mentions instantaneous exposures in sunshine and 5-10 seconds in moderate light using ammonia vapor.
- Exposure Time (1851): Neipce’s process using bichloride of copper for color required 3-5 hours of sunlight exposure.
- Gold Deposit: Each grain of gold deposit in gilding solution contains 7/10 its weight in gold.
- Distilled Water Production: A portable still can produce half a gallon of distilled water per hour.
- Price of Humphrey’s Journal (1858): $2 per year for a single copy, $5 for three copies, and $9 for six copies.
- Price of “The Practical Manual of the Collodion Process” (1858): $1 per copy.
- Price of “A Guide to Photography” (1858): 25 cents per copy or 5 copies for $1.
Terms:
- Accelerator: A chemical that speeds up the reaction of light on the Daguerreotype plate.
- Bromine Water: A solution of bromine in water, often used as an accelerator.
- Coating: The process of applying iodine and bromine vapor to the Daguerreotype plate to create a light-sensitive surface.
- Electrotyping: The process of using electricity to deposit a layer of metal onto a surface, often used to create a copper copy of a Daguerreotype.
- Gilding: The process of coating the Daguerreotype plate with a thin layer of gold to fix and enhance the image.
- Hyposulphite: A chemical, like hyposulphite of soda, used to remove the sensitive silver salt after exposure.
- Iodine Box: An airtight container containing iodine crystals used to coat the Daguerreotype plate.
- Mercury Bath: A container holding heated mercury used to develop the image on the Daguerreotype plate.
- Plane Reflector: A flat mirror used to direct sunlight onto the subject in Daguerreotype portraiture.
- Solarization: A phenomenon where overexposure to light results in a reversed image.
Examples:
- Wolcott and Johnson’s First Daguerreotype: The authors’ first successful Daguerreotype was produced on October 6, 1839, using a simple camera and reflector.
- The Profile Miniature: Wolcott and Johnson’s first portrait was a tiny profile captured on a plate smaller than three-eighths of an inch square.
- The Large Reflector: Wolcott’s invention of a large reflector with a 12-inch focal distance allowed for larger Daguerreotypes, but required a significant amount of light.
- Blue Glass Screens: To protect sitters from the intense light, Wolcott and Johnson experimented with blue glass screens, but ultimately moved on to other solutions.
- Ammonia Sulphate of Copper: A trough of plate glass filled with an ammonia sulphate of copper solution was used to reduce the intensity of light during sittings.
- The Use of Acid in the Copper Solution: Professor Mapes suggested adding acid to the ammonia sulphate of copper solution, which significantly shortened sitting times.
- Wolcott’s Mixture: This mixture, developed in 1842, was known for its high sensitivity to light and ability to produce high-quality images.
- Redeeming Overexposed Daguerreotypes: The authors discovered that overexposed Daguerreotypes could be saved by exposing them to diluted vapors of iodine, bromine, or chlorine.
- The Use of Chloride of Iodine: Wolcott and Johnson experimented with chloride of iodine as a single coating accelerator.
- The Use of Linseed and Silver Shots for Polishing: The authors tried using linseed and silver shots in a revolving wheel to polish plates, but found these methods inferior to buff leather and velvet.
Conclusion: This 1858 handbook provides an insightful look into the Daguerreotype process, highlighting the meticulous steps, chemical interactions, and challenges involved. It emphasizes the importance of a thorough understanding of both chemical properties and practical techniques. The historical account of Wolcott and Johnson’s experiments offers a fascinating glimpse into the early development of this art form. While the Daguerreotype has been largely replaced by modern photographic technologies, this book remains a valuable resource for understanding its history and the ingenuity of early photographers.