Ernemann’s Hand-stereobetrachter was available for the common stereoview formats 45 x 107 cm, 6 x 13 cm, 8.5 x 17 cm and 9 x 18 cm, but there were also models for the more niche formats 9 x 12 cm, 9 x 14 cm and 10 x 15 cm.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Ernemann, Dresden |
| Year of introduction: | 1907 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1907–19261 |
| Type: | Hand-held |
| Viewer: | Single-view |
| Serial number: | None |
| Stereoview support: | Glass and paper card stereoviews |
| Stereoview format: | 9 x 18 cm |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | No |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 15 x 12 x 17 cm |
| Construction: | Mahogany |
| Other features: | A small round logo with Ernemann Dresden on the front panel. |
Glossary: hand-held / inter-ocular adjustment / single-view
Ernemann
In 1889, Heinrich Ernemann formed together with Wilhelm Franz Matthias the Dresdner photographische Apparate-Fabrik Ernemann Matthias. Matthias left the company in 1891, and Ernemann continued the business activities alone. From 1899, the company was called Heinrich Ernemann, Aktiengesellschaft für Camerafabrikation in Dresden. The company only produced the wooden parts of a camera, the other parts were supplied by other manufactures. It switched to the production of complete cameras later, and Ernemann became a renowned manufacturer of photographic and film cameras. During the company’s lifecycle it produced a wide range of high-end cameras, but it also manufactured hand-held and tabletop stereoscopes.
The factory was located in the Striesen district of Dresden and was expanded in phases. The original building dated from 1898 and contained the mosaic Lichtgöttin (goddess of light). It was designed by the Art Nouveau painter Hans Unger. It was the famous trademark from 1903 to 1920. The factory was expanded with a central tower after the First World War. The buildings still exist today and the tower is now known as the Ernemann Tower. In 1926, Ernemann merged with ICA, Goerz and Contessa-Nettel to the new Zeiss Ikon company.
References
- Göllner, P. (1995) Ernemann Cameras. p. 234. ↩︎