Other Photographic Journal Pages

British Journal of Photography - 1876

HJ Palmer's recommendations for making

Gelatino-Bromide Plates

1876 Communication

Rev. AH Palmer spoke highly of the gelatino-bromide process in his communication to Edinburgh Photographic Society, written following his lecture to the society in January 1876.

He described the process as reliable, simple, inexpensive and had the advantage of producing no fumes of ether

Kennett's Pellicle Method

Palmer recommended using Kennett's pellicle for his gelatine.

-  Pour two ounces of distilled water upon 80 grains of pellicle in a 4 ounce wide-mouthed bottle.

-  After half an hour, place the bottle in hot water and thoroughly stir until all is dissolved.

-  Pass the solution through fine linen to remove bubbles.

-  Coat glass plates with the solution.

-  Leave to dry on a level surface, under a constant flow of warm dry air.

Recommendation  -  Use Mild Ale

When Palmer's communication was published in the British Journal of Photography on 10 March 1876, it was followed by this footnote:

"P.S.  Since the above paper was written Mr Kennett has informed me that negatives of exceeding beauty and brilliancy may be obtained by substituting mild ale for the water in preparing the gelatine emulsion  -  HJP"

Ab Initio Method

Palmer gave a list of the ingredients required for anybody wishing to make their emulsion ab initio.  These were:

Palmer also gave extensive details of exactly how these ingredients were to be mixed to make the emulsion:

"Let the gelatine be soaked for five or six hours in water and be then drained.  The bromide is next dissolved in seven drachms of water and poured upon the gelatine.  The latter in not treated in a hot bath and stirred with a glass rod until complete solution has taken  place.

The silver is then dissolved in seven drachms of water, and is poured, little by little, onto the gelatine, the whole being frequently shaken.  After this, two drachms of alcohol and two drops of bromide of ammonia are added, and the emulsion is poured into a flat dish until it is set."

Intensification

Palmer recommended the following method if the negative needed to be intensified:

-  Place the negative in a solution of chloride of copper (the strength seems to matter very little) until the image has disappeared.

-  Then, after abundant washing, a strong alkaline developer will bring up the picture to any amount of intensity.

[BJP: 10 March 1876; page 113]

Further Details

For other comments on this process, please see the Gelatino-Bromide page.