vectographs

[P3D Peter Abrahams <telscope@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul A. Lehman, palehman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, shares my interest in Vectographs.
Have you viewed any?

I have a 1944 booklet from Polaroid, "How to Make Polaroid Vectographs",
28pp.  I don't know if it is the same one Reel 3d was selling, "How to Make
Polaroid Vectograph Prints", stock # 1185, $6.  I had thought that Reel 3d
stopped carrying that item some time ago, if I'm wrong I hope to be
corrected; but it hasn't been in the catalog for a while.

The book I have does not inspire a replication of the procedure.
Simplified, two layers of gelatin, polarized at right angles to each other,
are exposed to right & left images.  Developing consists of hardening the
gel that has been exposed and washing off the unhardened gel.
The chemicals include sodium sulphate, pyrocatechin, potassium bromide,
sodium hydroxide, ammonium thiocyanate, Polaroid printing solution
AB.....but the good news is that "Sea water may be used successfully in
place of fresh water in all stages of processing."
Do any readers know if any of these chemicals are difficult to obtain at
this date?

I also have a reprint of Land's JOSA article, 6/40, _Vectographs....._ ,8
pages.
I could be motivated to photocopy these booklets, but my loathing of the
chore motivates me to request a trade, if possible, like for something like
this:
> I have spent some time reading the 1940/50 journals
> and have found some information on why it works.

John Dennis wrote a long article on Vectographs for the Nov/Dec 1981 Stereo
World (his first issue as editor, & still slaving away 16 years later.)
The description of the process as described there sounds somewhat
different, but I am not overly confident in my comprehension of the
technology.  Original stereo negs. are used to make wash off relief film
matrices, the process is similar to a dye transfer print.  This matrix is
soaked in Vectograph printing solution, absorbing different amounts
according to thickness -- dark areas are thicker & absorb more.  Vectograph
film is placed between two soaked matrices, and the sandwich is put through
pressure rollers, the film imbibes light absorbing molecules, which align
themselves parallel to the oriented Polarizing molecules.  It's then fixed,
laquered, aluminum laquer on one side for prints, and viewed.

I also have a brief e-file of 'clippings' on Vectographs that I will send
on request.
And on that subject, one of my clippings is this:

"I have an electronic copy of a vectograph explanation appendix lying
around somewhere."  Andrew Woods 

Andrew, can you find this without undue investment of time?

> An e-mail to the Polaroid Co.
>provided no information at all in their response.

Imagine that, a big firm like Polaroid not having archives.  I bet the
number of employees that have heard of Vectographs can be counted on two
hands.

John Dennis included a bibliography, and I would very much like to locate
these titles:
Kriebel, Richard.  The Complete Photographer. Vectograph Process,  p.3463.
Navy Training Courses vol. 2, Photography, p205, 1945.
Quigley, M.  New Screen Techniques.  p21, Vectograph chapter by William Ryan.
American Photographer, Jan. 1943 p47, Aug. 1943 p43, Herbert McKay. 
Popular Science, March 1943, p58,  Alden Armagnac.
Science News Letter, July 6, 1940, p7;  Dec. 25, 1943, p410;  May 18, 1946,
p311.
Scientific American, May 1942, p227, Eye Exercise Vectographs, Everett Melson.

Finally, there were companies making Vectographs in 1981, and I believe eye
testing vectographs are still available.  From the article: "The Titmus
Optical Company of Petersburg, VA sells....vision tests.  Custom V.s from
your negatives can be ordered from the Stereo Optical Company, 3539 N.
Kenton Ave, Chicago, IL.  ...one 5x7 V. could cost $150 to $200, but the
company also sells the materials & chemicals..."  If any p3d'ers know of
these firms, please let us know.
_______________________________________
Peter Abrahams   telscope@xxxxxxxxxx
the history of the telescope, the microscope,
    and the prism binocular


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