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Magic Lantern Walking Stick, 1880s

In Accessories > Canes and Walking Sticks > Show & Tell and Photographs > Magic Lantern > Show & Tell.
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    Posted 6 years ago

    rniederman
    (346 items)

    This exceedingly rare Magic Lantern (gadget) walking stick caught me by surprise. As a collector of early photographic apparatus and accessories, I thought I had pretty much seen everything over the years; innovative cameras, tripods, exotic lenses and shutters, image plates, powder flash, etc. ... you get the idea. And then this comes along when visiting an antique dealer at a show. The dealer, who also specializes in canes, admits this is the only example seen to date.

    While magic lanterns predate photography by several hundred years, they eventually became an important part of photographic history. They are most often thought of as entertainment in the form of tabletop lanterns that project images made on glass slides.

    This 34 inch walking stick (cane) has a brass handle that ingeniously transforms into a magic lantern projector. The disguised projector, as the handle, has lenses in the tapered cone, a wick (serving as the torch), a parabolic mirror to reflect the burner light, and a retractable chimney. Tripod legs and hand painted glass lantern-slides are stored below the handle inside the top portion of the cane's shaft. There is also a metal frame to hold the glass slides.

    Probably considered only as a novelty, this magic lantern walking stick is a delightful addition as an accessory to my early camera collection.
    _________

    Update: The projector works. I thought it was more of a novelty item and it probably is, but it does project an image. I tested by removing the cone portion of the handle (which has the optics) then positioned and illuminated a film transparency in a darkened room. (I didn't want to take the chance of damaging the original glass slides.) The transparency image resolved easily (but somewhat fuzzy due to the primitive optics) from about 3 feet and got larger (and dimmer) as I moved back. The projected image actually got pretty big at around 10 feet. Yet given that a small flame is the illuminant, as opposed to a bright flashlight, the viewing distance would probably be closer to 3 feet or so for a bright projection.

    To answer a good question if something was needed to protect the delicate glass slides from the heat of a flame, I assume they would need some type of insulation to prevent damage. Maybe there was protective glass (or similar material) to shield the slides. If so, it is lost.

    And …
    ... gently sliding the cone forward exposes a carriage to hold the lantern slides.
    … there are no scorch marks inside the lantern so it was probably never used.

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    Comments

    1. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 6 years ago
      This has to be rare. Luv it ! I'll give you that hectare of land, 6 goats & 3 copper bracelets for it. I'll even throw in that 3 legged water buffalo !
    2. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 6 years ago
      Naw ! Besides the finger, I've tried to buy 7 girlfriends, 1 wife and a used motorbike with these fine assets. Think the water buffalo cleared the last butterfly mine and the poppies are doing great after the bombs aerated the soil. Want to make a deal ?
    3. Daddy_Nobucks Daddy_Nobucks, 6 years ago
      Sweet piece!
    4. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 6 years ago
      The lens cone slides out to expose a slot to insert the pix strip ? Is there glass to protect the pix strip from the heat of the flame ?
    5. Manikin Manikin, 6 years ago
      Very cool wow !
    6. SEAN68 SEAN68, 6 years ago
      this is awesome...……………...
    7. Vynil33rpm Vynil33rpm, 6 years ago
      Great Goo-Glee ,Moo -Glee
    8. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 6 years ago
      Bobby, I get the finger on a regular basis, but not the elec. one.
    9. vetraio50 vetraio50, 6 years ago
      TOP !!!
    10. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 6 years ago
      I agree Vetraio50. For a collector in this field, this has to be the Holy Grail. Bobby, I'm glad to know that at least 1 person recognizes my finer attributes. Now, to convince others. LOL !!
    11. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      hunterqlee
      SpiritBear
      pw-collector
      bobby725
    12. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks, BB2! Appreciate your comments and humor.
    13. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      JohnK
      fortapache
      MALKEY
    14. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      Manikin
      Ben
      Daddy_Nobucks
    15. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      kwqd
      Radegunder
      aura
      Sean
    16. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      shughs
      Michael
      Thomas
      vetraio50
    17. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      Hunter
      AnythingObscure loves this.
      chrissylovescats
      farmlady
    18. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      ho2cultcha
      yougottahavestuff
    19. rniederman rniederman, 6 years ago
      Thanks!
      Mrstyndall
      Designer
      AntigueToys
      Beachbum58
    20. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks, Sean!

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