Nain
Region: France Period: 1890–1930 Tag: Mattey Stereoscope type: Hand-held » Multi-view
© Stereoscopy History
Le Nain is a stereoscope for glass stereoviews. The name “Le Nain” (French for “dwarf”) emphasises the compact design of the stereoscope. The design concept is described in the Mattey catalogue from 1922:
The current multi-view stereoscopes are robust devices consisting of a multi-view mechanism and a storage cabinet for 200 to 300 views. These stereoscopes, which are good to be placed on a table, are very practical for viewing large numbers of stereoviews, but cannot be easily moved because of their weight. It is therefore interesting to have a small multi-view stereoscope, but of much less volume and weight. “Le Nain” was built to fill this gap as it is a small handheld viewer receiving 25 glass slides stored in a tray, which is almost similar to that of the “Stéréothèque”.
Le Nain model for the 45 x 107 format was discontinued in the 1920s. The device was reintroduced in 1930 for the 6 x 13 format.
Operation:
A small lever on the right side of Le Nain is positioned between two metal strips with teeth. Pushing the lever upward and forward moves the tray along a rail, bringing a glass slide into position. The entire device must then be rotated counter-clockwise so that the slide falls out of the tray under gravity and is placed in front of the lenses. When the device is rotated clockwise, the slide falls back into the tray. The next image can then be selected using the lever. This design avoids the need for a complex mechanism and keeps the construction relatively compact. In practice, the procedure functions effectively, although it is somewhat cumbersome.
Specifications:
Patents and registrations:
Number: 391565
Stéréoscope perfectionné
Filing: 22-06-1908, Publication: 04-11-1908, Applicant(s): Jean-Baptiste Cuny. via: data.inpi.fr