How about Ether? It was I believe,used as a solvent in the wet collodian
process.
A little Ether vapour in the darkroom atmosphere, and a struck match
(to light the darkroom safe light. Mr Edison's new invention not having
reached the UK at that time, presumably) would produce a most
satisfactory explosion!
Alex.
-- Alex Nanson alec@norlex.demon.co.uk Gloucester. UK