The Taxiphote Simplifié Modèle 1908 is a simpler version of the advanced Taxiphote. The Taxiphote Simplifié offers fewer features, but was available at a lower price. Special is that the viewer makes it possible to navigate the stereoviews in two directions. This bidirectional navigation feature was available later in the advanced Taxiphote, but only in some models. A later version of the Taxiphote Simplifié supports inter-ocular adjustment.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Jules Richard |
| Year of introduction: | 1908 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1908–1910 |
| Type: | Tabletop |
| Viewer: | Multi-view |
| Mechanism: | Tray-based |
| Bidirectional navigation: | Yes |
| Serial number: | 4436 |
| Stereoview support: | Glass |
| Stereoview format: | 45 x 107 mm |
| Number of slides: | 25 |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | No |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 23.5 x 23 x 26 cm |
| Construction: | Wood |
| Other features: | Plaque with Le Taxiphote Stéréo-Classeur – Distributeur Automatique. |
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