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Unidentified photographer/creator
Smartt's tent, made by Murray & Heath
1868
Book page
Google Books
LL/34929
Published in "A Supplement to Ure's Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines" Edited by Robert Hunt (New York: Appleton and Company, 1868), p.923, fig.565.
The true photographic artist, however, will not be content with a camera obscura of this or any other kind. He will provide himself with a tent, in which he may be able to prepare his plates, and subsequently to develop and to fix his pictures. Many kinds of tent have been brought forward, but we have not seen any one which unites so perfectly all that can be desired, within a limited space, and which shall have the great recommendation of lightness. Fig. 565 represents Smartt's new photographic tent, which appears to meet nearly all the conditions required.
In this tent an endeavor has been made to obviate many of the inconveniences complained of, especially as to working space, firmness, simplicity, and portability. Usually, in the various forms of tent, the upper part, where space is most required, is the most contracted, while at the lower part, where it is of little importance, a great amount of room is provided.
Smartt's tent, made by Murray & Heath, is rectangular in form, is 6 feet high in the clear, and 3 feet square, affording table space equal to 36 inches by 18 inches, and ample room for the operator to manipulate with perfect case and convenience. The chief feature in its construction is the peculiarity of its framework, which constitutes, when erected, a system of triangles, so disposed as to strengthen and support each other: it thus combines the two important qualities of lightness and rigidity. The table is made to fold up when not in use; and in place of the ordinary dish for developing, a very efficient and portable tray is provided, made of india-rubber cloth, having its two sides fixed and rigid and its two ends movable; it thus folds up into a space but little larger than one of its sides. The working space of the table is economized thus: a portion of it is occupied by the tray just described; the silver-bath (which is one of Murray & Heath's new glass baths, with glass water-tight top) is suspended from the front of the table, and rests upon a portion of the framework of the tent; a contrivance is devised for disposing of the plate-slide of the camera, in order to reserve the space it would require if placed on the table. The bath and plate-holder, in their places as described, are shown in the wood-cut. This arrangement leaves ample space on the table for manipulating the largest-sized plates. The entire weight of the tent is, 20 Ibs., and it is easily erected or taken down by one person.
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