I ran across the following web page on 19th century photographic processes and equipment:

http://moa.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/sgml/moa-idx?notisid=AEL5141

The site reprints an 1868 book entitled "A Manual of Photography." Pages 74-94 are particularly interesting if you have read Kingslake's work on the History of the Photographic lens. The reprint also contains information on wetplate photography and other processes used during the period.

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