Name/TitleBrewster Stereoscope with Martin & Fay Focus Adjustment
About this objectA Brewster-type stereoscope is a refracting hand-held stereoscope introduced by David Brewster in 1849. The device was later developed into a viewer with an enclosed housing. This modification occurred largely in response to the use of daguerreotype stereoviews, which exhibited high surface reflectivity and therefore required shielding from ambient light. A hinged lid was added to the top of the viewer in order to direct incident light onto the daguerreotype and, subsequently, onto paper stereoviews. Jules Duboscq later incorporated a ground glass element to enable illumination of glass stereoviews by transmitted light.
(from: Compendium of Stereoscopes)
The illustrated viewer also features an early lens-tube focusing mechanism, patented by Antoine Jules Martin and Alexis Fay in 1855. To synchronize the movement of both lens tubes, they are connected by a metal piece inside the viewer. This element was later moved to the exterior, directly behind the ocular rings, resulting in the widely adopted design of later box-type viewers.
Place MadeEngland
Date Madec.1855
TechniqueSingle-view, manually
TechniqueFocus, lens tubes
Period1850–1892
Format8.5x17cm
Object TypeStereoscope
Subject and Association KeywordsFR 25785 (A. J. Martin, A. Fay, 1855)
Medium and Materialsopaque and transparent
Object numberM‑SH065
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved
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