Stereo tintype

A tintype or ferrotype is a positive image printed on an iron plate. Like an ambrotype, it’s a variation of the wet collodion process. The process was first described by Adolphe Alexandre Martin in 1853[1]. A sheet of iron was coated with dark brown or black varnish, followed by a coating of collodion. The plate… Continue reading Stereo tintype

Zeiss Jena Doppelverant

The Doppelverant is a simple yet versatile stereoscope for viewing glass and paper card stereoviews. The viewer can be used as a table-top or hand-held stereoscope and was designed by Moritz von Rohr of Carl Zeiss Jena[1][2]. There was also a model available for viewing “normal” images and this device was named Einzelverant[1]. The introduction… Continue reading Zeiss Jena Doppelverant

Stereo ambrotype

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

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

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