Beschreibung:

Original mercury box of a Giroux Daguerreotype outfit. Large wooden box designed to develop full plate (164 x 216 mm) Daguerreotypes: after the exposure the plate was inserted in the upper part of the box in a 45° angle and was exposed to mercury vapor which was produced by heating up a small sheet metal cup in the pyramid shaped lower part of the box. In order to allow inspection of the state of development the upper portion of the box has a semi-circular glass front which originally was covered by a curtain to keep out the light. On the right side a thermometer was mounted to measure the temperature of the mercury. The thermometer is missing, but the wooden scale still remained. On the lower left side, just next the metal cup, there is a small opening to refill the mercury with a dropping glass. The box is supported on legs holding an attached wooden platform. Mounted in the middle of the cross shaped panel is a central wooden ring to keep the spirit lamp in place. At the top of the box a removable wooden cover to keep the vapor inside. The offered mercury box is built according to the plans that Daguerre published in 1839 and was part of the original outfit produced by Alphonse Giroux. The box was professionally and carefully restored and is in very good original condition. Except for the thermometer no parts are missing. To our knowledge only about five of this boxes are known to exist. Height: 54cm.