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Uncommon Photographic Accessories, 1890s

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    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.

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    Comments

    1. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      ok i'll be first to be laughed at ...lol ,..a pocket spotter lens ,...?
    2. Watchsearcher Watchsearcher, 5 years ago
      Photograph magnifier?
    3. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Hey Roycroftbooksfromme1 … actually not a bad guess but nope.

      Hi Watchsearcher … a very good guess that is close but not correct.
    4. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      What about a eye loop for checking negatives...smiling ..
    5. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      An eye loupe for negs is a really good guess … but not quite right!
    6. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      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..
    7. Watchsearcher Watchsearcher, 5 years ago
      Some kind of miniature spy glass? I'm grasping here!
    8. Collectables59 Collectables59, 5 years ago
      Are they antique lenses from a camera? Neil
    9. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      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! :)
    10. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      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
    11. Collectables59 Collectables59, 5 years ago
      Are they lenses off of theatre/ Opera glasses(small binoculars) ?
    12. Collectables59 Collectables59, 5 years ago
      Got it I think. Monoculars. Neil
    13. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      I already said that Collectables59 back off or i'll put the dogs on you ...lol
      https://www.pinterest.com/pin/189432728054943596/?lp=true
    14. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Hey Neil ... not small binoculars or monocular. Thx.

      Clue ... these are camera accessories.
    15. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      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
    16. Collectables59 Collectables59, 5 years ago
      Old camera eye piece?
    17. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      got to run the wife has the door open ....Telephoto Lens,...first of its kind later
    18. Watchsearcher Watchsearcher, 5 years ago
      Microscopic lens for photographing medical specimens on slides?
    19. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Not a viewfinder, telephoto lens or microscope lens ... good guesses.

      Clue ... not picture taking lenses.
    20. Collectables59 Collectables59, 5 years ago
      Print inspection view finder ?
    21. buckethead, 5 years ago
      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 :)
    22. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      ANTIQUE MINIATURE SPY GLASSES..........!
    23. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      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.
    24. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      congrats ...buckethead ...'-))
    25. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks!
      Michael
      vetraio50
      fortapache
      Roycroftbooksfromme1
    26. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      Watchsearcher....",Photograph magnifier?" well ya thats what it reall was ,..just a magnifier..no matter what you use it for ....lol
    27. Watchsearcher Watchsearcher, 5 years ago
      I guess it pays to be specific. ;^)
    28. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      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!
    29. Roycroftbooksfromme1, 5 years ago
      Or have a good lawyer ....Watchsearcher .. lol
    30. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks!
      MALKEY
      Sean
      Mrstyndall
      ho2cultcha
      BB2
    31. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks!
      AnythingObscure
      Vynil33rpm
      JohnK
    32. rniederman rniederman, 5 years ago
      Thanks!
      lisa
      buckethead
      kyratango
      f64imager
    33. rniederman rniederman, 1 year ago
      Thanks, Falcon61!
    34. rniederman rniederman, 1 year ago
      Thanks, Deano!

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