Optiscope No.10 lantern slide projector.
Ensign Limited
Category
Photographic technology
Date
Unknown
Materials
Metal, Canvas
Measurements
300 x 565 x 140 mm
Place of origin
London
Collection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1525263.1
Summary
Optiscope No.10 lantern slide projector. Made in England by Ensign Ltd, London The whole is of metal construction and mounted on a X shaped cast metal base. The front 2 legs of the X have knurled metal bolts through to adjust the height of the Optiscope. The Optiscope attaches to the mount by a lever action metal bolt that allows the lantern to be adjusted from side to side. That mount then attaches to 2 guide rails by a further mount to allow it to be adjusted for pitch. A metal lamp house lined and perforated to allow heat loss and the presence of an illuminant slide carriage suggests it was originally used with an ignited light source but has been converted to electricity. In front of the lamp house is a compartment for the condenser lens which is missing, then there is the slide gallery which attaches to a bellows action focusing system and finally to a heavy metal lens standard. The side of the lamp house and the standard have plaques - Made in England by Ensign Ltd, London. Behind the lens standard are 2 additional legs managed by 2 knurled nuts which allow the bellows portion to be stapled when at full length
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
Ensign Limited, manufacturer