Posted 8 years ago
Cinegraphica
(16 items)
I could use some help in identifying this pre-cinema mechanism. I know it's from Germany (German patent number), but that's about all I could find about it.
It's a mechanism where you could place a circular disk on with 24 images (it's film, not glass). I'm not sure if this mechanism was meant to be placed in front of a magic lantern (for projecting) or in some kind of viewer. By turning the handle you create a short animation such as in other optical toys (praxinoscope, phenakistiscope or zoetrope).
I've looked at a great information page of Stephen Herbert about the projecting phenakistiscope, but this mechanism isn't mentioned and is not similar.
https://www.luikerwaal.com/newframe_uk.htm?/kinematograaf_uk.htm Did you find this link to movies on magic lanterns? It references the patent numbers.
Hi Slackjack. i know that page, but didn't know the patent number was mentioned. Thank you for that info. I don't think the mechanism would fit that lantern though.
Slackjack, I justed checked one of my own magic lanterns from the German Maker Jean Schoener and it also mentions the same patent number (see http://www.cinegraphica.be/2010/08/jean-schoener-kinematoscope-rond-1900.html). So it looks like the number D.R.P. 71339 refers to magic lanterns more in general than just my mechanism.
Update: I searched for the DRP number in the online German patent database. The number is attributed to inventor/maker Jean Schoener. At least now I'm sure about the maker's name.