The Stéréoscope à Chaîne is a chain-based or revolving stereoscope. The viewer fits into the Vérascope product line of Jules Richard and only supports 45 x 107 mm glass stereoviews. Compact models for 50 slides and large floor-stand models for 100 and 200 slides were available1.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Jules Richard |
| Year of introduction: | 1895 (patent filed) |
| Year of manufacture: | c. 1900 |
| Type: | Tabletop |
| Viewer: | Multi-view |
| Mechanism: | Chain-based |
| Bidirectional navigation: | Yes |
| Serial number: | None |
| Stereoview support: | Glass |
| Stereoview format: | 45 x 107 mm |
| Number of slides: | 50 |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | No |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 21 x 21 x 42 cm |
| Construction: | Walnut |
| Other features: | Plaque with Vérascope Richard Maison de Vente: 3, Rue de Lafayette Usine: 8, Passage Fessart, Paris |
Patent
| Number: | 2441042 |
| Title: | Perfectionnements dans les appareils stéréoscopiques |
| Filing date: | 04-01-1895 |
| Publishing date: | – |
| Applicant(s): | Jules Richard |
Glossary: chain-based / inter-ocular adjustment / multi-view / tabletop
Jules Richard
Félix Richard (1809–1876) established in 1845 a company that was specialised in the manufacturing of barometers. Jules Richard (1948–1930) took over the management of his father’s company in 1876, and patented in 1880 the first reliable barometer that could permanently record air pressure. The barometer became very successful, and the company at 25, Rue Mélingue in Paris started to grow. Richard introduced the compact 45 x 107 mm glass stereoview format and Vérascope stereo camera in 1893. It became a great success and the Vérascope became the best-selling stereo camera of its time. A product line was created around the new format, with a wide range of cameras, stereoscopes and accessories in different price ranges. The company became the leading brand of stereoscopy products and brought stereo photography within the range of amateurs. Their product names, such as Vérascope and Taxiphote, were commonly used as synonyms for stereo cameras and stereo viewers of all kinds.
The complete story of Jules Richard
References
- Richard, J. (1913) Vérascope, Glyphoscope, Taxiphote, p. 42. ↩︎
- Richard, J. (1895) Perfectionnements dans les appareils stéréoscopiques. Via: archives.inpi.fr ↩︎