Stereoscope viewer
Category
Toys
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wood, metal, glass and photograph
Measurements
Frame - 178 mm (length); 46 mm (width); 120 mm (height), Main piece - 330 mm (length); 140 mm (width); 200 mm (height)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 663979
Summary
A stereoscopic viewer - a device, made mostly from wood, for viewing two identical photographs at the same time to create a 3D image. The main piece consists of a flat piece of wood, narrow (approx 3cm) for most of its length, widening at the end which joins on to the base of the oval-shaped viewing section. In the angle formed at this join, a flat piece of wood (approx 6cm tall) projects from the centre of the oval for approximately 7cm, ending with a narrow flat piece at right-angles to it. In a hole cut into the oval, at each side of the projecting piece, is a square glass window. Around the top and sides of the oval, nailed on with domed nails, is a curved, thin piece of wood which has a curved outside edge to fit against the face. Screwed to the underside of the wide end of the narrow piece is a metal bracket with a kind of hinge to which is attached a turned wooden handle which has a pointed end. The other piece of the device is a wooden 'frame' for holding the photograph to be viewed. It consists of a narrow length of wood with a wire support for the photograph at each end. Carved in the centre of the lower edge is a notch, with a gold-coloured metal piece across the gap. This piece is to form a 'slot' to slide along the narrow wooden piece and is in the shape of a cross, with two of its points nailed or screwed to the wood, the other two (with spoon-shaped ends) projecting to the front and back to balance it. There is a photograph in the 'frame', consisting of two identical photographs of an avenue of leafless trees and a man in a dark suit and hat, with a long stick. At the right-hand edge of the photographs is '754 Mount Edgcumbe, The Avenue'. Total number of items is 3.