Record Details

Name/TitleStere­o­scope ‘forme droite’

About this objectThe stere­o­scope is rel­a­tive­ly large and fea­tures a focus­ing knob on the under­side. After loos­en­ing the knob, focus is adjust­ed by slid­ing the stere­oview hold­er. The lens pan­el is posi­tioned deep with­in the device, while the wood­en hous­ing reduces inci­dent light. Large side shields fur­ther lim­it stray light and improve view­ing conditions.
This con­fig­u­ra­tion is par­tic­u­lar­ly suit­ed to view­ing autochromes, which are typ­i­cal­ly dark and require strong illu­mi­na­tion. Unwant­ed inci­dent light and reflec­tions can inter­fere with the view­ing expe­ri­ence, and the design address­es these constraints.
(from: Com­pendi­um of Stereoscopes)

Fur­ther read­ing: Stere­oscopy His­to­ry Series — Mat­tey (A. Ruiter)

Place MadeFrance

Mak­erMat­tey

Mak­er RoleMan­u­fac­tur­er

Date Made1910–1930

Tech­niqueSin­gle-view, manually

Tech­niqueFocus, lens board

Peri­od1893–1939

Sub­ject and Asso­ci­a­tion Descrip­tionThis stere­o­scope has an unusu­al design. It appeared in Mattey’s 1915 cat­a­logue under the name “Forme droite” (straight shape) and was ini­tial­ly avail­able only for the 45 x 107 for­mat. In the 1922 cat­a­logue, it was mar­ket­ed specif­i­cal­ly as a view­er for autochromes and was then offered only in the 6 x 13 cm for­mat. The 1927 cat­a­logue list­ed the view­er again for both for­mats; this was its final appear­ance before it was removed from Mattey’s prod­uct range.

For­mat6x13cm

Object TypeStere­o­scope

Medi­um and Mate­ri­alsglass slides

Object num­berM‑SH019

Copy­right LicenceAll rights reserved