ROC Retouching Desk glass?

[nick_morris]

I recently bought an old Retouching Desk, the kind that folds up, has

a mirror to reflect light through a glass to the negative, so that

the negative can be retouched. Sort of an early edition of Photoshop

type of thing. Hah, hah, right. Anyway, the glass upon which the

negative is placed is missing from my unit. Pictures of ones I've

seen looked as if a ground or frosted glass is used. Does anyone know

the best type of replacement glass? Is there a reason for not using

plexiglas or clear glass?

Thank you.

[alec1]

Only clear. Anything else would confuse the details in the negative.

 

Get strong glass - remember, you'll be leaning on it, it is fairly large [8 x 10+] and you don't want it to break.

[james_driscoll2]

There is a great book I read once from the 1950's that was titled

"Retouching". I think Amphoto put it out....a search on EBAY will

probably locate it.

 

It had EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about hand

retouching....and had a whole section devoted to the "retouching

desk"

 

Plus...it would look cool sitting next to your desk....

[john_cook1]

Here's a neat site for all you negative retouchers out there:

 

http://www.veronicacass.com/item17122.ctlg

[gary_deal]

My old Burke & James has a sheet of what looks like flashed opal glass in it, white side down. Don't know if it's original. I'd think you need a more or less white sheet to allow illumination to pass without being able to see through it, as well as something that wouldn't show textures or detail that's not in the neg.

[nick_morris]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Gary, good point about the white glass. Again, thanks to all.