Posted 5 years ago
rniederman
(346 items)
Dang ... it’s been five years since my last “mystery post.” So once again I thought it would be fun to challenge the CW folks to identify these thingamabobs. They are not rare but are somewhat uncommon.
The small accessory (left) is roughly 1½ inches tall while the other is about 2¾ inches in height.
As with my previous ‘mystery accessory’ posts, anyone who guesses correctly will have my admiration and those of your CW peers. Of course, these are identified objects and I will post period advertising later on ... or sometime after I return home in mid-October.
FWIW ... a really, really rare mystery object I posted five years ago was figured out in two days. These should be easier and probably shouldn’t take more than a day to identify ... so don’t disappoint me!
PS: Wild comical speculation is always encouraged!
Have fun.
****************
Props to Buckethead for identifying these! I posted an 1898 advert showing these exact focusing aids.
![Thornton-Pickard Wood Shutters and Congo (x5) [2410-C5B]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/w20AAOSwDg1nMW5k/s-l225.jpg)
ok i'll be first to be laughed at ...lol ,..a pocket spotter lens ,...?
Photograph magnifier?
Hey Roycroftbooksfromme1 … actually not a bad guess but nope.
Hi Watchsearcher … a very good guess that is close but not correct.
What about a eye loop for checking negatives...smiling ..
An eye loupe for negs is a really good guess … but not quite right!
Do we get graded for our spelling .if so I loose ...lol loupe, hmmmmm
so my last guess now that I'm off the roof and my break is over.so my wife told me ....
"for looking at the viewfinders "So you dont shake the box....??? if I win,.. just send my share of the money to lucas I owe him lunch...smiling late,.. and good luck to the other runner up's...been fun..
Some kind of miniature spy glass? I'm grasping here!
Are they antique lenses from a camera? Neil
Not a miniature spy glass or antique lenses.
However, Roy's wife got real close with the idea that these are "for looking at viewfinders." And yes Roy, you loose points for the misspelling! :)
well my wife say I'm always to wordy when I type ....so how about a "veiew finder",,,.? and shuckd on the points Rob ....lol
Are they lenses off of theatre/ Opera glasses(small binoculars) ?
Got it I think. Monoculars. Neil
I already said that Collectables59 back off or i'll put the dogs on you ...lol
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/189432728054943596/?lp=true
Hey Neil ... not small binoculars or monocular. Thx.
Clue ... these are camera accessories.
well my wife say I'm always to wordy when I type ....so how about a "veiew finder",,,.? and shuckd on the points Rob ....lol
my wife says its a camera accessories.smiling ..enjoy the day all
Old camera eye piece?
got to run the wife has the door open ....Telephoto Lens,...first of its kind later
Microscopic lens for photographing medical specimens on slides?
Not a viewfinder, telephoto lens or microscope lens ... good guesses.
Clue ... not picture taking lenses.
Print inspection view finder ?
A setting loupe for plate cameras. Made for focus on the focusing screen at wetplate photography and also an original accessory from that time. Adjustable for different eye strengths by sliding in and out....just a wild guess :)
ANTIQUE MINIATURE SPY GLASSES..........!
Buckethead pretty much figured it out. These are magnifiers (focusing aids) to use on ground glass screens for critical focus. When shooting large format, lens focal lengths are somewhat long and focusing on a specific point gets difficult. These magnifiers are placed against the ground glass and the portion of the view is magnified. It becomes easy to know when something is in focus. Various versions of these first appeared in the late 1870s.
congrats ...buckethead ...'-))
Thanks!
Michael
vetraio50
fortapache
Roycroftbooksfromme1
Watchsearcher....",Photograph magnifier?" well ya thats what it reall was ,..just a magnifier..no matter what you use it for ....lol
I guess it pays to be specific. ;^)
FWIW ... there are photograph magnifiers but they are very different. Refer to my post: https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/206422-american-stereographoscope-mid-1870s Thanks!
Or have a good lawyer ....Watchsearcher .. lol
Thanks!
MALKEY
Sean
Mrstyndall
ho2cultcha
BB2
Thanks!
AnythingObscure
Vynil33rpm
JohnK
Thanks!
lisa
buckethead
kyratango
f64imager
Thanks, Falcon61!
Thanks, Deano!