The ambrotype process is named after James Ambrose Cutting (1814-1867) who popularised the process and patented in 1854 a method of mounting and sealing the image plate. Cutting was not the inventor and actually it’s not a new process, but a variant of the wet plate collodion process. An ambrotype is an underexposed collodion negative.… Continue reading Stereo ambrotype
Author: André Ruiter
L’Astra
L’Astra is the last known stereoscope based on a design by Lucien Bize. The viewer was introduced in 1913 by Robert Pleyau, the successor of Bize’s company[1]. The stereoscope was available for the 45x107mm and 6x13cm format and has two achromatic lenses with eyepiece blinders. It could be purchased with an optional wooden cabinet for… Continue reading L’Astra
Stereo collodion negatives
The collodion wet plate process process was invented in 1851 by Frederick Scott Archer (1813-1857). The process was based on the light sensitivity of silver halides (bromide and iodide) suspended in a collodion binder on a glass plate. It had significant advantages over the daguerreotype process. The process was more light sensitive, which meant that… Continue reading Stereo collodion negatives
Stereoview workshop by Gaudin
A very interesting 8,5x17cm French tissue of a workshop where stereoviews were made. The back has the inscription Fabrication de cadres photographiques, 7e série no. 1 and the name A. Aubenas, Verny. According to Denis Pellerin, the stereoview is manufactured by Alexis Gaudin in c.1860[1]. Alexis Gaudin (1816-1894) was one of the pioneers of stereo… Continue reading Stereoview workshop by Gaudin
Mackenstein hand-held stereoscope
A deluxe Mackenstein hand-held stereoscope with a burr walnut finish for 8,5x17cm stereoviews. The viewer is suitable for paper card stereoviews and glass slides. The lenses can be focussed and the distance between the lenses is adjustable. It emphasises the luxury of the viewer, because interocular adjustment is not a common feature for hand-held viewers.… Continue reading Mackenstein hand-held stereoscope
Stéréo-classeur Hemdé – Série II
The Stéréo-classeur Série II is a stereoscope for 6x13cm glass stereoviews, manufactured by Hemdé from Lille. The Série II stereoscopes were intended for stereo formats larger than 45x107mm. In addition to 6x13cm, the devices were also available in the formats 8,5x17cm, 7x15cm, 9x14cm and 10x15cm[1]. The last three formats are remarkable because these stereoview formats… Continue reading Stéréo-classeur Hemdé – Série II
Mackenstein “Francia” № 4 camera
The “Francia” № 4 is a versatile camera manufactured by Mackenstein from Paris. The camera can take both stereo and panorama photos. With the name “La Francia”, Mackenstein wanted to emphasize that his company was French, which was necessary given his German heritage and the anti-German sentiments following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The Francias,… Continue reading Mackenstein “Francia” № 4 camera
Jougla Omnicolore
Jougla Omnicolore is a lesser known colour process based on an invention by Louis Ducos du Hauron and industrialised by Jougla. It was introduced in 1907[1-p.80], the same year as the Autochrome Lumière process. Louis Ducos du Hauron (1837-1920) was an inventor and one of the early pioneers in the search for colour photography. The… Continue reading Jougla Omnicolore
Platoscope
The Platoscope is a basic stereocamera that was made by an unknown manufacturer and sold by Photo-Plait and other sellers. The camera was introduced during the First World War as a “sensational novelty”[1]. With its products and services, Photo-Plait focused on the soldiers at the front. The Platoscope was promoted with the slogan “for the… Continue reading Platoscope
Ernemann Heag XV
The Heag series of folding cameras were produced between 1900 and 1926 by Ernemann from Dresden. The abbreviation Heag stands for Heinrich Ernemann Actien Gesellschaft. Most of the cameras in the Heag series were designed for glass plates. The cameras could be completely folded so they were easy to carry and the lenses and shutter… Continue reading Ernemann Heag XV