Archives: Museum Objects
Stereoscope ‘Patent Achromatic Mirror Stereoscope’
The Achromatic Mirror Stereoscope was specially designed for viewing paper stereoviews that were mounted in a book. It is an open viewer with a mirror on the base of the device, to which it owes its name. Two achromatic lenses are placed in adjustable brass …
Prism Stereoscope ‘Le Benescope. Auto-Redresseur’
Georges-Adolphe-Emmanuel-Pierre Balmitgère was born on September 3, 1871, in Algiers, and died on November 4, 1918, at the age of 47. Very little is known about him, except that he became interested in stereoscopy and filed three patents and two additions between 1907 and 1909, …
Brewster Stereoscope, Burl Walnut, Short Focus, Prismatic Lenses
Paul Émile Chappuis, who was born in France, moved to London to establish a photographic studio. In 1857, he introduced a mirror in the hinged lid of the stereoscope, allowing reflected light to be directed into the viewer. This eliminated the need to tilt the …
Tray-Stereoscope ‘Stéréo-Auto-Classeur “Astra“ ‘
L’Astra is the largest of Bize’s designs. The slide tray mechanism of L’Astra differs from typical stereoscopes. Instead of a tray carriage moving over a rail, L’Astra uses a gear system embedded in the base plate, with the tray featuring grooves. The rotating gear moves …
Tray-Stereoscope ‘Stéréo-Classeur’, Luxe
A bakelite tray containing 25 glass slides can be inserted by flipping down the front of the viewer. Then, by depressing the lever on the right side of the housing, one slide after another can be examined. On the left side of the viewer, there …
