A revolving stereoscope that was manufactured by Mattey. The stereoscope is of the same type as this viewer and has an interchangeable unit with chain and stereoview holders. However, this model has a number of striking features. The most special is the nameplate above the lenses. It shows the name Mattey, Père & Fils and the address 8, rue Pastourelle in Paris. In 1902, Mattey acquired the stereoscope workshop of Legendre, which was located at this address. Mattey kept the workshop until 1906, after which they moved the company to 208, rue Saint-Maur. With the nameplate, this viewer can be dated quite accurately with a manufacturing date between 1902 and 1906. This makes it a viewer that dates back to the early days of the company that would develop into one of the most prominent French stereoscope manufacturers of the 1910s and 1920s.
The second intersting feature is the supported stereoview format. This viewer is suitable for glass and paper card stereoviews of 7 x 15 cm, a rather unusual format. It fits in with Mattey’s strategy of manufacturing viewers for many different formats. Finally, the wooden housing has a 45-degree veneer finish which has been applied to various types of viewers that were manufactured by Mattey. This distinctive finish was not used by other stereoscope manufacturers.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Mattey |
| Year of introduction: | 1902 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1902-1906 |
| Type: | Tabletop |
| Viewer: | Multiple-view |
| Mechanism: | Chain-based |
| Bidirectional navigation: | Yes |
| Serial number: | 1600 |
| Stereoview support: | Glass and paper card stereoviews |
| Stereoview format: | 7 x 15 cm |
| Number of slides: | 50 |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | No |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 48 x 23.5 x 24.5 cm |
| Construction: | Wood |
| Other features: | 8&9 logo printed inside the viewer and on the interchangeable chain. Plate with Mattey Père & Fils – Constructeurs – 8 rue Pastourelle – Paris – IIIème. |
Patent
| Number: | FR3232591 |
| Title: | Chaine porte-plaques et son dispositif de commande, pour appareils stéréoscopiques |
| Filing date: | 26-07-1902 |
| Publishing date: | 02-03-1903 |
| Applicant(s): | Mattey père et fils |
Glossary: chain-based / inter-ocular adjustment / multi-view / tabletop
Mattey
Mattey was one of the leading manufacturers of stereoscopes in France. The company offered the widest range of stereoscopes of all manufacturers. The company was founded in 1872, but its expansion began with the establishment of Société Mattey père et fils on 31 December 1902. The names behind the company were André Élie Victor Mattey (1844–1919), and his son Albert Georges Mattey (1873–1940). Mattey’s business grew through acquisitions. The most important was the acquisition of Maison Legendre in 1902, which set the foundation for Mattey’s stereoscope business.
Société Mattey père et fils was dissolved on 1 January 1912, and the company was continued by Albert Georges as Stéréoscopes A. Mattey. The company was located at 208, Rue Saint-Maur in Paris from 1906 but moved to 15, Rue Clavel in 1936. After the Second World War, the company continued as Société des Anciens Établissements A. Mattey. Mattey’s products were also branded Unis France, a collective trademark to guarantee the French origin of high-quality products, made by different companies.
The complete story of Mattey
References
- Société Mattey père et fils (1903) Chaine porte-plaques et son dispositif de commande, pour appareils stéréoscopiques. Via: data.inpi.fr ↩︎