Name/TitleTray-Stereoscope ‘Série III’
About this objectThe wooden trays contain 25 slides each and can be inserted into the viewer by flipping down its front. Then, by turning a crank on the right side of the housing, one slide after another can be examined. Each half-turn of the crank advances or returns the slides and moves the tray forward. A metal lever integrated into the counter on the left side of the viewer enables free slide navigation. A fold-out mirror at the back adjusts light for optimal image illumination.
The viewer illustrated has a beautifully decorated base which seems to be original but still can’t be found in the catalogues. Probably, it was made to order. As there is no storage base in ‘Série III’ this viewer only comes with one original tray, which is the Autochrome version with 12 thicker slots. It’s still equipped with its 12 Autochrome colour slides in the rare 10x15cm format.
‘Hemdé’ viewers are among the rarer tray-stereoscopes, and are testimonies to the remarkable diversity of French stereoscopes.
In-depth information on ‘Hemdé’ and their viewers can be found on André Ruiter’s blog: Hemdé
Place MadeFrance
MakerHemdé
Maker RoleManufacturer
Date Madec. 1910
TechniqueMulti-view, tray-based
TechniqueFocus, lens board
Period1893–1939
Subject and Association DescriptionHemdé was a French trademark for photography accessories and stereoscopes, named after its location in Hem and its founder, Maurice Delécaille. Initially focused on photographic glass plate development, the company patented a stereoscope mechanism in 1907 in collaboration with Émile Cuny and Paul Sorel. After the dissolution of Delécaille’s company in 1909, Sorel continued producing Hemdé stereoscopes. The company ceased operations sometime in the mid-1920s.
One of Hemdé’s specialties was the use of wooden slide trays. Far more important was their crank mechanism incorporating a ingeniously threaded rod that serves for both lifting the slides into viewing position and moving the tray, allowing smooth forward and backward navigation.
Format10x15cm
Object TypeStereoscope
Subject and Association KeywordsFR380115 (É. Cuny, P. Sorel, M. Delécaille, 1907)
Medium and MaterialsGlass Slides
Object numberM‑ST059
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved
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