Posted 11 years ago
RPMRog
(1 item)
I wish somebody could tell me SOMETHING about this piece! I don't know what year it's from...don't know anything about it except that is says: "CHAS. Beseler Co. New York No. 8198" on the tag affixed to the door. It is complete (I think) with the slide holder, double convex lenses inside the box behind the bellows and a smooth as new adjustable brass lens on the front. Inside the box is the original reflector, stand and even the original Edison style bulb!! I love the thing but want to know more about it. I need to tell the story when I show it off to my friends! :)
This is a lantern projector and used as a form of entertainment - think of it as a primitive slide projector. More than likely, it projected images from 4" x 4" glass slides. Age is difficult to determine because this basic design didn't change much over the years. The unit is definitely post 1900. Catalogs of early Beseler equipment are difficult to find and unfortunately I don't have one.