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Hastings-on-Hudson
10/23/38

Dear E.M.C;

From some newly-found fossil fragments of early memories, (mine and other [strikeout]s[/strikeout] eyewitnesses), I can now reconstruct more of those early struggles in documentation.  The camera was a modified box-type with no swing-back and when one wanted to make a vertical composition after doing a horizontal he had to unscrew the box and turn it down onto its side.  It had a rapid rectilinear lens with an old type shutter that use a plunger.  Films were being used by most persons but, for some reason, I used plates very early in the game and I dunno just why unless it was because one of our sources of information was a photo-supply dealer who re-taled suggestions with his supplies.  Anyway, they were terribly slow and color-blind and with the plate holders and other apparatus totaled up to a heavy load for a featherweight to tote around.  The tripod had to be light even tho flimsy and unreliable in a pinch.

The flashlight was a compound of magnesium and an accelerator, the latter being increased in proportion to the speed desired as the former was very slow. Also, it was rather deadly when it decided to go off prematurely or became caked up and showered sparks over everybody.

Now, suppose we are elbowing our way thro the mob at Ellis (Island) [strikeout] day and[/strikeout] trying to stop the surge of bewildered beings oozing through the corridors, up the stairs and all over the place, eager to get it all over and be on their way.  Here is a small group that seems to have possibilities so we stop ‘em and explain in pantomime that it would be lovely if they would only stick around just a moment.  The rest of the human tide swirls around, often not too considerate of either the camera or us.  We get the focus, on ground-glass of course,-then, hoping they will stay put, get the flash-lamp ready.  A horizontal pan on a vertical hollow rod with a plunger into which a small paper-cap was inserted and then the powder was poured a-cross the pan what seemed, at the time, to be enough to cover the situation.  Meantime, the group had strayed around a little and you had to give a quick focal adjustment, while someone held the lamp.  The shutter was oiled, of course, plate-holder inserted and cover-slide removed, usually,-the lamp retrieved and then the real work began.  By that time most of the group were either silly or stony or weeping with hysteria because the bystanders had been busy pelting them with advice and comments, and the climax came when you raised the flash-pan aloft over them and they waited, rigidly, for the blast.  It took all the resources of a hypnotist, a super-salesman and a ball pitcher to prepare them to play the game and then to outguess them so most were  not either wincing or shutting eyes when the time came to shoot.  Naturally, everyone shut his eyes when the flash went off but the fact that their reactions were a little slower than the optics of the flash, saved the day, usually.

Other kinds of flash-lamps were brought out from time to time,- one system used paper cartridges filled with powder and operated by an electric spark.  Another used used sparks buzzed off a metal into the pan of powder.  If it didn’t buss just right, you lost the exposure,-too bad.  Later, some bright man brought out a flash-bag that held the terrible smoke and a large part of the light.  The smoke, by the way, was a big drawback if you wanted to take a second exposure or if you had any regard for the people who had to stay in the room after you left.

I think that’s all just now.

Cordially

Lewhine

MCCausland

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