Record Details

Name/TitleFold­able Stere­o­scope ‘Mascher’s Improved Stere­o­scope’, Small Version

About this objectThe Masch­er view­ing case is a fold­able view­er made of wood and cov­ered with leather. The device con­sists of a base plate on which the lens pan­el and the hold­er with the daguerreo­type are placed. Nei­ther com­po­nent can be locked in posi­tion, which makes view­ing some­what cum­ber­some. It is eas­i­er to place the daguerreo­type in the palm of the hand and hold the lens pan­el between the thumb and forefinger.
(from: Com­pendi­um of Stereoscopes)

Place MadeUnit­ed States of America

Mak­erMasch­er, John Frederick

Mak­er RoleMan­u­fac­tur­er

Date Madec. 1855

Tech­niqueSin­gle-view, fixed

Peri­od1850–1892

Sub­ject and Asso­ci­a­tion Descrip­tionJohn Fred­er­ick Masch­er aimed his view­ing case at the mass mar­ket, and it was pro­duced in a vari­ety of sizes and styles. He held a near-monop­oly on the man­u­fac­ture of these cas­es and sold tens of thou­sands with­in a short peri­od. As daguerreo­types declined in the ear­ly 1860s, the cas­es were adapt­ed for ambrotypes and tintypes.

Object TypeStere­o­scope

Medi­um and Mate­ri­alsDaguerreo­type

Object num­berM‑SH087

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