[American Handbook of the Daguerrotype by Samuel D. Humphrey]@TWC D-Link book
American Handbook of the Daguerrotype

CHAPTER VI
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This I also undertook to procure.

After 2, P.M., he had more leisure, when he proceeded to complete the camera, introducing for that purpose a reflector in the back of the box, and also to affix a plate holder on the inside, with a slide to obtain the focus on the plate, prepared after the manner of Daguerre.

While Mr.Wolcott was engaged with the camera, I busied myself in polishing the silver plate, or rather silver plated copper; but ere reaching the end preparatory to iodizing, I found I had nearly or quite removed the silver surface from off the plate, and that being the best piece of sliver-plated copper to be found, the first remedy at hand that suggested itself, was a burnisher, and a few strips were quickly burnished and polished.
Meantime, the camera being finished, Mr.Wolcott, after reading for himself Daguerre's method of iodizing, prepared two plates, and placing them in the camera, guessed at the required time they should remain exposed to the action of the light; after mercurializing each in turn, and removing the iodized surface with a solution of common salt two successful impressions were obtained, each unlike the other! Considerable surprise was excited by this result, for each plate was managed precisely like the other.

On referring to Daguerre, no explanation was found for this strange result; time, however, revealed to us that one picture was positive, and the other negative.

On this subject I shall have much to say during the progress of the work.
Investigating, the cause of this difference occupied the remainder of that day.


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