Cadwell revolving stereoscope

Region: United States    Period: 1850–1890   
Cadwell stereoscope, Octagonal model, United States
Cadwell stereoscope, Octagonal model, United States
© Vintage 3D Viewer collection

Several models of the Cadwell revolving stereoscope exist, all based on the same mechanism. The multi-view mechanism consists of a cylindrical spool to which 50 metal holders for stereoviews are attached. These provide space for 100 paper stereoviews placed back-to-back. The holders are movably attached to the spool, which has the disadvantage that, when rotated, a holder is not always positioned exactly in the correct viewing position. Later models featured a small sliding control near the rotating knob that could be opened to manually compensate the holder position.

The best-known model had a wooden housing with bevelled upper sides on both ends, into which ground-glass panels were mounted. The lens panel is located at the top and positioned at an inclined angle. A less common model has an octagonal form.

Specifications:

Classification:
Tabletop / Multi-view
Introduction:
1874
Designer:
Jonathan W. Cadwell
Maker:
Jonathan W. Cadwell / Nelson A. Cadwell
Construction:
Wood
System:
Closed
Medium:
Paper
Format:
8.5 x 17
Number of slides:
100
Bidirectional navigation:
Yes
Lens:
Convex
Lens focus:
Yes
Inter-ocular adjustment:
No
Note :
Early models did not support focussing

Patents and registrations:

Number: 146164
Revolving stereoscopes
Filing: 06-01-1874, Applicant(s): Jonathan W. Cadwell. via: worldwide.espacenet.com

Further reading:

  • Stereo World (November 1977) , p. 10
  • Wing, Paul. Stereoscopes: The first one hundred years (1996) , pp. 126-127
Published: 08-05-2026