A hand-held stereoscope with an unusual design, manufactured by Mattey. The stereoscope appeared in Mattey’s 1915 catalogue under the name “Forme droite” (straight shape), and was only available for the 45 x 107 mm format. In the 1922 catalogue it was marketed as a viewer specifically for autochromes, but now it was only available for the 6 x 13 cm format. The 1927 catalogue presented the viewer for both formats, but this was the last time the stereoscope was included as it was removed from Mattey’s product range later.
The stereoscope is a fairly large viewer with a knob on the bottom. After loosening the knob, the viewer can be focused by sliding the holder with the stereoview. The panel with the lenses is located deep in the device and the wooden housing shields incident light. The large shields on both sides help enhance the viewing experience of autochromes. Most autochromes are dark and require a good light source for viewing. Undesired incident light and reflections can disrupt the viewing experience.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Mattey |
| Year of introduction: | c. 1910 |
| Year of manufacture: | c. 1910–c. 1930 |
| Type: | Hand-held |
| Viewer: | Single-view |
| Stereoview support: | Glass |
| Stereoview format: | 6 x 13 cm |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | Yes |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 19.5 x 15.5 x 8.5 cm |
| Construction: | Mahogany |
Glossary: autochrome / hand-held / inter-ocular adjustment / single-view
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