[greg7mdp]

try eBay, plenty available there. I’d recommend pure iodine.

[greg7mdp]

Well, I don’t know about France but it is not that expensive in the US. Here are 10 sheets, each enough for 4 whole plates: unbuffered mat

If the plates stored in the plastic bag are fine, then it means that the sealing you are doing is not effecive and oxygen is going through to the plate.

[greg7mdp]

Hi, I think your sealing method is a little complicated, but my main worry is the mat (passe-partout, that you call cardboard) you use. You say it is neutral. I assume you mean “buffered”.

Buffered mat contain calcium carbonate. This can be very bad for dags (see https://books.google.com/books?id=FLTyvuWX6MMC&pg=PA173&dq=daguerreotype+buffered+mat&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMIneea9tj0xgIVBDaICh11cQJe#v=onepage&q=daguerreotype%20buffered%20mat&f=false).

You must used unbuffered mats (passe-partout musée sans reserve alcaline).

Bon courage!

[greg7mdp]

Hum, on dirait des particules sur la plaque. Est ce que tu utilise de l’alumine pour polir avant le rouge?

[greg7mdp]

Overexposure causes those blue tones (also called solarization). Try doubling the second iodine times and it will make it less likely.

[greg7mdp]

Try http://www.thaisilks.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_9&products_id=694

[greg7mdp]

Yes, many thanks from me as well, I really enjoy the site!

[greg7mdp]

Maybe if you post a picture we can help.

[greg7mdp]

Ah, I’m glad you didn’t offer to swap the plates, Irv, you know that nothing good happened to the African magician in Aladin’s story. I must be mentally affected as well for making such bad jokes. Just this mysterious email from France about Girault de Prangey plates for sale really got me going.

By the way I never heard back from the guy!

All the best,

greg

[greg7mdp]

Actually, I was just kidding around. Only in my wildest dreams could I find such a treasure, and of course I would not proceed to destroy it. I am a little bit upset that you thought me capable of this… ok you are forgiven.

The plate box above is actually a box of plates from Girault de Prangey, which was discovered in a Swiss museum a few years ago. This museum published a wonderful book in 2009 (Miroirs d’Argent) which is now selling used for $90+ on abebooks (http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=miroirs+d%27argent&x=0&y=0). I highly recommend it.

I have enjoyed Mike’s presentation at the last symposium about the restoration he did on some rare daguerreotypes, and would definitely consider him foremost were I ever to find a treasure.

greg

[greg7mdp]

Hi Irv,

 

Here is the box with the plates in it.

 

Attachments:

You must be logged in to view attached files.

[greg7mdp]

Sorry, Casey, you are too late, I already purchased them. There were 23 bare plates in an old plate box, 6th plate size. Since I didn’t pay very much for the lot,and the plates are heavily tarnished (the views on them can barely be discerned), I will repolish them for my own use (silver plating is so expensive these days).

[greg7mdp]

That’s perfectly possible, some daguerreotypists have done that. Some have even made dags on polished silver dollars, even though they are not pure silver. The main issue is the cost.

greg

[greg7mdp]

Sure, I’d be interested to see the photos.

greg

[greg7mdp]

Hi Dafna,

Yes, mm Hg and torr are about the same, you can use them interchangeably. It is reassuring that Photolytic agrees with John Hurlock, since they are one and the same person, a master daguerreotypist living near Chicago, ILL.

About the bromine, you need to (carefully, wearing safety glasses and other protection, preferably outdoors) mix a few drops with a small quantity of calcium hydroxyde (200g for example, more if you have a large box), and put the powder at the bottom of the bromine box. The resulting powder should have a light orange color. Be quick because the bromine evaporates quickly. You can reuse it many times if your bromine box doesn’t leak. Next time check the color of powder. If it white all the bromine is gone and you will have to add some more.

Good luck,

greg

PS: From wikipedia: Torricelli attracted considerable attention when he demonstrated the first mercury barometer to the general public. He is credited with giving the first modern explanation of atmospheric pressure. Scientists at the time were familiar with small fluctuations in height that occurred in barometers. When these fluctuations were explained as a manifestation of changes in atmospheric pressure, the science of meteorology was born.

Over time, 760 millimetres of mercury came to be regarded as the standard atmospheric pressure. In honour of Torricelli, the torr was defined as a unit of pressure equal to one millimetre of mercury.

[greg7mdp]

Hi Dafna,

The peeling off is because the plate got too hot while gilding. Heat much more gently. Look at a previous discussion where Photolytic recommended the use of an IR thermometer to watch the temperature while gilding (excellent advice). Don’t guild for more than 3 or 4 minutes.

The wavy marks may have the same cause. Also filter your gilding solution with a coffee filter before usage.

15 minutes seems much too long in the fixer. Just watch for the plate clearing and leave it a little bit longer to be sure.

I don’t think you are underexposed either, but maybe enveloped in a gilding cloud of whiteness

Keep at it and good luck, you are on the right path!

greg

[greg7mdp]

I’ll be in on wednesday evening as well.

Greg Popovitch

[greg7mdp]

Jeff, that would be a great opportunity to have some input from the collector’s side. I have to admit I don’t really understand the auction market, especially stuff like a color print of Richard Prince plagiarism of a Malboro cowboy ad selling for over a million dollars (see http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/arts/design/06prin.html). Clearly the guy is a genius! I’m even willing to make my own pictures for a fraction of this price. Maybe we do need better representation or marketing?

In any case, that should be an enjoyable evening… really looking forward to it.

greg

PS: about the photo scene, I read an amusing anecdote from AIPAD this year, which seems to indicate that not all dealers are ethical:

“There were also some amusing “sidebars,” for want of a better name. At the Michael Shapiro Gallery, there was a Robert Frank print, “City of London,” 1951, with a letter to Robert Frank from the gallery owner to the photographer, asking him to certify the authenticity of the print he had acquired from someone named Lunn, since, as the letter explained, it was printed on Agfa paper with a cream sepia tone, signed and dated, 1973. Below this letter was Frank’s response:

“ I will not comment on the print you acquired from Lunn, but I will tell you that Lunn is a cheap, cunning, lying bastard. He has no right to put any stamp on my photographs to make it look as this stamp has been put on by me.” “

[greg7mdp]

Hi Jeff,

That’s a great idea! I’ll be happy to join the party and chat with the other moderns and their top supporter on friday night. It should be a lot of fun.

Gregory Popovitch

[greg7mdp]

Hi Marizu, I am sorry but you have it backwards. We sometimes use the daguerreotype process waste products to make wet plates, but the reverse is unthinkable, and even considering it makes me tremble.

Seriously, making dags is difficult enough that I would advise to start with the best plates you can get, and if you can reclaim silver from your used developer, better sell it by the pound and buy some gold chloride for gilding your dags.

gregory

[greg7mdp]

Hi Li, the two tapes you mentioned are just about the same (see description in http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140569921331). I have used both and the difference is difficult to see. Both will work perfectly – my latest package happened to be the blue box.

Also I would suggest that you use the glass you already bought. I agree with John that UV protection is unnecessary, but it should not be a problem either. I have used many different kind of glass and indeed just regular good quality framing glass is fine, as the natural green tint is not apparent on a framed dag (you really notice it on the glass only when you look at the glass from the side). Don’t worry about the framing details too much. Many pristine masterpieces from the past came to us framed under extremely poor quality glass (by today’s standards) and with disintegrating hand-made paper tape.

greg

[greg7mdp]

Li, I’m sure you can buy Filmoplast P90 tape from book supply dealers in China, like http://www.alibaba.com/member/hk106614451/contactinfo.html. P90 is the tape that most daguerreotypists and conservators use and is time-proven. The air travel through the tape has to be minuscule, if any, in my opinion, and I don’t worry about it.

[greg7mdp]

Agreed, a great heartfelt thank you to Jeff Green for all his efforts promoting – and collecting – modern daguerreotypists. The Atlanta exhibit that he arranged and sponsored was the nicest one I have seen, and the opening reception full of energy. I was thrilled to be able to participate and be present. We are all fortunate and grateful for his help and efforts.

Cheers,

Gregory Popovitch

PS: I just checked and have two plates just 1/4″ smaller than the size used by Li. I’m not sure they will be practical for Li but I’ll send them to you anyways, Jeff.

[greg7mdp]

John is right better protect 100% of the aluminum. See this time-lapse video: http://www.ohhaveyouseenthis.com/2009/08/mercury-vs-aluminum.html

greg

[greg7mdp]

Maureen,

I suggest you contact John Hurlock. He lives close to Chicago and is an outstanding daguerreotypist, widely collected by museums and private collectors. I personally own a wonderful whole plate by him. I will send you his email address in a private email.

Best regards,

gregory

[Author]

Posts