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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
3rd Edition Published in London 1897
of the mount should be cut away; it should then be put into a
plate of cold water and be allowed to float off. A little warm
water will assist in its coming away more easily, but should it
not do so, the photograph has probably been mounted with a
solution of India-rubber, and in that case, by holding it near the
fire, the rubber will soften and the print may easily be peeled
off.
Very hot water is likely to set up a reaction if the prints were
not well washed by the photographer when first sent out.
In mounting photographs, white boards should, as a rule, be
avoided, because the colour of the boards is more pure than
the lights of the photograph, and deaden the effect. A toned
or tinted board is more suitable.
They should be damped, and evenly trimmed and pasted all
or starch oozes out from the sides, it should be wiped off with a clean damp sponge. As photographs lose their gloss
in mounting, they must be rolled afterwards in order to restore it. A special machine is used for this.
But it may be wished to introduce the silver print without mounting on a board. To do so, and to keep the print
straight, paste a very thin paper on the back, stretching the paper well; this will counteract the pulling power
albumen has, and the print will, if this be done properly, remain perfectly straight and not curl up.
Albumen-Desiccated egg-albumen is now well known in the market in the form of powder. Three teaspoonfuls of cold
water added to every ½ teaspoonful of powder represents the normal consistency of egg-albumen.
The manufacture of egg-albumen in the neighbourhood of Moscow is carried on in the houses of the country people.
The albumen however is generally roughly prepared and of bad appearance, and often spoils. But egg-albumen is
also produced on a manufacturing scale in the neighbourhood of Korotscha, the largest establishment there
numbering sixty to seventy workwomen, using about eight million eggs yearly, other establishments using less in
proportion.
Albumen is also largely manufactured from blood; 5 oxen or 20 sheep or 34 calves are said to yield the same quantity
of dry albumen, viz., 2 lbs. In producing blood-albumen for commerce, the objects borne in mind are the attainment of
a substance whose solution is free from colour, possesses coagulation, and which is cheap.
To prevent tools, machines, et., from rusting-Boiled linseed oil, if allowed to dry on polished tools, will keep them from
rusting; the oil forms a coat over them which excludes contact from air.
Dissolve ½ oz. of camphor in 1 lb. of lard; take off the scum, and mix as much blacklead as will give the mixture an iron
colour. All kinds of machinery, iron or steel, if rubbed over with this mixture, and left on for 24 hours, and then rubbed
with a linen cloth, will keep clean for months.
To clean silver mountings-To restore the colour of tarnished silver clasps, etc., boil the goods, either silver or plated,
in enough water to cover them. For every pint of water put into it 2 ounces of carbonate of potash and a ¼ lb. of
whiting. After boiling them for about a quarter of an hour, clean with a leather, brush, and whiting. They will look as
good as new.
To clean sponges-Soak the sponge well in diluted muriatic acid for twelve hours. Wash well, then immerse in a
solution of hyposulphate of soda to which a few drops of muriatic acid has been added a few moments before. When
sufficiently bleached, wash well, and dry in a current of air.
End!
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