Educa (stereoscope)

The Educa is a stereoscope designed for educational use and manufactured by Mattey. It belongs to the final generation of French multi-view stereoscopes introduced in the late 1920s.

The designation Educa refers to the company that marketed the stereoscope and the associated stereoview collections. The instrument was produced exclusively by Mattey on behalf of Educa and did not appear in Mattey’s own catalogues.

Operation:
The stereoscope and its operating principle are unique. The stereoviews are printed on a single glass slide measuring 13 x 18 cm. Each plate contains twenty-four images arranged as twelve stereo pairs in six horizontal rows. A sliding lid at the top of the viewer provides access for loading the plate. By operating a lever on the right-hand side, a wooden holder is raised, allowing the glass plate to be inserted from above. Once positioned, the lowest row of stereoviews becomes visible. The lens panel can be moved laterally to the left and right to align with the two images of a stereo pair. By lowering the lever, the glass plate descends stepwise, bringing the next row into the viewing position.

Specifications:

Patents and registrations:

Number: 617514
Procédé pour le tirage de vues stéréoscopiques et appareil pour regarder ou projeter ces vues
Filing: 14-06-1926, Publication: 21-02-1927, Applicant(s): Albert Mattey, Louis-Jean Lavelle. via: data.inpi.fr

Further reading: