Le Multiphote is a further development of Le Minimus and includes a slide tray to place and catch the slides. Le Multiphote is a slightly bigger device, but the tray simplifies the replacement of the slides. Models for 45 x 107 mm and 6 x 13 cm glass stereoviews were available.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Lucien Bize, Robert Pleyau |
| Year of introduction: | 1908 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1908–1915 |
| Type: | Tabletop |
| Viewer: | Multi-view |
| Mechanism: | No mechanism. A tray is only used to load the slides. |
| Bidirectional navigation: | No |
| Serial number: | None |
| Stereoview support: | Glass |
| Stereoview format: | 45 x 107 mm |
| Number of slides: | 24 |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | No |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 16.5 x 13.5 x 24.5 cm |
| Construction: | Wood |
| Other features: | Paper manual pasted on the inside of the removable top lid. |
Lucien Bize
Lucien Albert Bize (1866–?) designed a range of innovative and compact stereoscopes in the early 20th century in France. Many names were associated with the manufacturing of his designs. In 1902, Bize patented his first stereoscope design for the detachable hand-held stereoscope that was marketed under the name L’Omnium. His early stereoscope designs were manufactured by Maison Gustave Jacob at 22, Rue Oberkampf in Paris. After Jacob’s bankruptcy in 1911, Bize continued the manufacturing of stereoscopes at 69, Rue Oberkampf.
On 1 January 1913, Bize sold his company to Robert Pleyau. Bize’s last patent was filed in 1912. Pleyau sold a part of his business activities to La Société E. Brose et Cie in 1917, but he remained active as an entrepreneur at 69, Rue Oberkampf. It is unclear if Pleyau sold the business activities that were related to stereoscopes, but it seems that the manufacturing of Bize’s stereoscopes ended during the First World War.
The complete story of Lucien Bize