J.H. Steward lantern projector.
J. H. Steward
Category
Photographic technology
Date
1885
Materials
Mahogany, Brass, Glass, Metal, Rubber
Measurements
490 x 330 x 610 mm
Collection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1525202
Summary
J.H. Steward Lantern projector. The whole item is mounted on a solid mahogany base, metal lined two toned mahogany body with brass fitting throughout brown hood and cowl with gilt decoration, Detachable baseboard secured by four heavy brass fittings and brass bolts 2 either side. Brass draw tube and fittings with rack & pinion control mechanism focusing lens To facilitate the lifting of the metal lined case there are two heavy brass rails, one either side. On the back of the case is the brass valve tubing with star dissolver, beneath the dissolver the case is pieced to allow access for the illuminate but the only part that remains is the heavy metal base plate. On each side of the case there is a door secured by a turn buckle, each door is constructed of many pieces of mahogany and lined with metal and has a brass porthole with blue glass. On each side there is brass access plate to the area behind the object lens. On the front of the case On the front of the case mounted on 2 heavy duty nulled nuts & bolts is a brass lens plate engraved “J.H. Steward, Strand. London”. JHS is in red, the rest is in black. In front of this plate is the slide registering device which is secured by four nulled brass nuts & bolts there are further bolts for adjusting the height of the slide, the front of this device is the standard plate for the lens assembly, this commences with a large brass tube which ends with a brass plate with three concentric circles of nulling which resembles a three draw tube, the plate is tapped for screwing in the lens assembly which includes rack and pinion device for adjusting the main focus lens which is missing. The final portion of the lens assembly is the lens plate and lens cover. The domed metal hood is painted brown with gold decoration, in two freezes, outside freeze is of three lines with dots along the central line and the internal freeze is Greek key pattern with a floral motif in each corner. The hood terminates with an oval chimney hole into which an ornate brown chimney and cowl fits, the chimney is decorated with a gold Greek key pattern and the cowl consists of four bent metal ovals layered together to create a flower like structure each petal finishes with a gold line.
Provenance
Part of the Fenton Collection. A gift from British Film Institute in 2017. From 1986-1999, part of BFI collection for the Museum of the Moving Image. BFI purchased collection in 1986 from James Fenton's Museum of Photography, Port Erin, Isle of Man 1976-1986.
Makers and roles
J. H. Steward, manufacturer