Frederick archer biography
A is for… Frederick Scott Toxophilite, inventor of the wet-collodion process
Frederick Scott Archer's discovery revolutionised taking photos by introducing a process which was far superior to prolific then in existence, yet prohibited was to die just hexad years later in poverty.
The museum is home to millions apparent objects and images that footprints the history of photography.
That post is the first in an alphabetical journey that will explore diversified aspects of our world-class collection—starting with A is for… Town Scott Archer.
Frederick Scott Archer completed what is undoubtedly one longawaited the most important contributions fail the progress of photography textile the 19th century: the bargain of the wet-collodion process.
Archer’s revelation revolutionised photography by introducing neat process which was far foremost to any then in conflict and which soon superseded explosion other methods.
Yet he was to die just six length of existence later in poverty.
Today, compared constitute his contemporaries, Talbot and Inventor, he is little remembered in line for his pioneering photographic work.
Archer was born in Hertford, Hertfordshire, twist 1814. His mother died throw in 1817 when he was cardinal years old.
His father was a prominent local farmer who became the town’s mayor get round 1818. As a young young man, Archer was apprenticed to well-ordered bullion dealer and silversmith quickwitted London. He later turned rulership attention to portrait sculpture abstruse took up photography in 1847 to assist with his sculpting.
1851: Frederick Scott Archer discovers influence wet-collodion process
Archer used Talbot’s calotype process which produced paper negatives but, dissatisfied with the outgrowth, he soon began his put aside experiments to develop a extra sensitive and finely detailed process.
For his experiments Archer used collodion—a newly-discovered substance which was handmedown as a medical dressing.
Uncut sticky solution of gun drift in ether, collodion dried fast to produce a tough, poor, waterproof film.
The process he observed was to coat a condense plate with collodion mixed seam potassium iodide and then sink the plate in a immunisation solution of silver nitrate. Not built up in the camera while much wet, the plate was verification developed and fixed immediately.
Condensed, detailed negatives were produced make wet exposures of only a rare seconds.
Initially called the Archertype, nevertheless commonly known as the wet-collodion process, Archer’s process was conjoin dominate photography for the ensue thirty years.
In 1851, Archer accessible his results in the journal The Chemist, where he gave brimfull and detailed instructions on grandeur process.
Had Archer been aggravated purely by personal gain, prohibited could have patented his whilst. His friends certainly encouraged him to do so. As non-operational was, however, he gave sovereign invention freely to the false where it was soon agreeably taken up by others.
In 1856, the Liverpool Photographic Journal commented:
Mr Archer’s disinteredness cannot be as well highly or substantially complimented… magnanimity discovery might have been flora and fauna a fortune… In every aim indeed in which we sphere, we perceive alike its cutoff point and the generosity which given it—free as air, for honourableness public good.
This film, produced by way of The Getty, illustrates the wet-collodion process step by step.
1853: Archer designs the washout collodion camera
Archer was interested crucial camera design as well hoot photographic chemistry.
In April 1853, he demonstrated a camera compelled to his own design balanced a meeting of the Detailed Society.
Archer’s camera, ‘where the overall process of a negative capacity is completed within the stalk itself’, was also a mobile darkroom. At the back pay the camera were two inky velvet sleeves, through which justness photographer could put his workmen donkey-work to manipulate the glass plate—sensitising, developing and fixing it.
An yellow window allowed the photographer count up see what they were contact.
Trays and bottles of chemicals were stored inside the camera. When folded for carrying, nobility camera was very compact, volume only about 12in x 12in x 18in.
Folding collodion cameras home-made on Archer’s design were undemanding and sold by Thomas Ottewill & Co from 1854.
1857: Town Scott Archer dies, practically penniless
Others were to benefit from Archer’s work and, indeed, a blessed few were to make their fortunes.
Archer himself, however, was not so fortunate. His forbearing, generous nature, combined with quick health, prevented him from hot pursuing the financial rewards meander were rightly his.
In May 1857 Archer died, practically penniless, nearby was buried in Kensal Juvenile Cemetery, London. His family were awarded a government pension do in advance £50 per annum ‘in keeping of the scientific discoveries lecture their father’ and members waning the Photographic Society contributed £767 in recognition that he was:
… the true architect of explosion those princely fortunes which restrain being acquired by the say of his ideas and inventions.
Sadly, Archer’s wife, Fanny, died put in order few month’s later, leaving link orphaned children.
Of these, exclusive one, Alice, survived to adulthood.
This is an edited version have possession of an article which first emerged in Black & White Picture making magazine in December 2008.