Posted 10 years ago
Kydur
(103 items)
These are great things to look through even today, especially if there's lots of old photographs to look at. The photos required a special twin-lens "stereo-vision" camera to capture the images and apparently it could be quite tricky to make the best "3D" photos.
I picked this one up at a yard sale for $25 including about 20 photo cards. Everything about it is in really good condition and it's become one of the most cherished items in my collection; especially after discovering thousands of old stereoscopic photos that people have scanned and posted to various websites in high-resolution - I keep printing them out and adding to my photo collection.
These sort of images are even making a bit of a comeback with instructions available online on how to recreate the stereoscopic photos with modern digital cameras on slider racks or mounted in tandem, with the image reprocessed through digital imaging software. Seems like the best ideas never die; and over 100 years later they're still working on 3D television!
This is the coolest!! You got an incredible bargain there and what a treasure!!
Careful ... collecting stereoscopes is addicting - and your $25 was well spent. Some of these hand held designs have very fancy aluminum hoods with ornate engravings.
This is an American design that was very popular from the 1890s to 1930s. It is good that the wooden divider is still present; they are normally lost. Your stereoscope is representative of models sold from 1907 on. The style of friction joint (for the handle) on you viewer was patented in 1897.
And yes, stereo cameras were used to make the images and picturing taking could be a challenge at times. For reference, here is a link showing my collection of multi-lens cameras capable of making stereoviews - the design diversity is amazing: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/user/rniederman/antique-multi-lens-cameras
JScott: There seem to be lots on eBay for around the same price (or slightly higher) - but it's the shipping that makes it more pricey. No shipping costs from the yard sale <!> and it was nice to see exactly what I was getting and to handle it a bit before buying. Then there's similar items on eBay that have ridiculously high prices by comparison!
Rniederman: Thanks for all the great information. I followed your link and what an amazing collection of cameras you have - I never imagined so many stereo cameras in one place! I have an old bellows collapsible camera (just 35mm or maybe 120 film) in one of my storage boxes somewhere, but all the brass and wood bits on yours make them truly displayable as pieces of art.
I have my great grandparent's stereoscope, with about 15 cards. I have even made some to use in it.
Russ
Russ, making your own stereo photos is a commendable skill! I have mostly just starting printing out the massive number of downloadable scanned images found online. I was going to mount them one on each side of a piece of cardboard (matboard to be specific), but have since read that the curve normally found on stereoscope photos lends to the 3D effect produced - whereas I just thought it was an age-related curl thing. Would be great if anyone else could comment on the validity of this.
Awesome find along with the price! Nice.