A basic hand-held stereoscope for 6 x 13 cm glass stereoviews. With this stereoscope, Mattey offered a simple stereoscope for an affordable price. The 45 x 107 mm model was often included in wooden boxes containing collections of 100 or 200 glass stereoviews.
The Unis France logo is engraved in the front panel. Unis France was a collective trademark to guarantee the French origin of high-quality products, made by different companies. The trademark was issued by the Union Nationale Inter-Syndicale des Marques Collectives, which was founded during the First World War on 9 December 1915. Over 3,000 French industrialists were granted to use the label in 19341. A numbering system was set up to identify the members. Two numbers were used, and were visible on the left and right sides of the label. In the case of Mattey, the numbers were 76 (syndicate number) and 3 (user number). Jules Richard was also affiliated with the Unis France trademark, but he used it less in his communications. Richard’s numbers were 76 and 272.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Mattey, Paris |
| Year of introduction: | c. 1910 |
| Year of manufacture: | c. 1920 |
| Type: | Hand-held |
| Viewer: | Single-view |
| Serial number: | None |
| Stereoview support: | Glass |
| Stereoview format: | 6 x 13 cm |
| Lens focussing: | Yes |
| Inter-ocular adjustment: | No |
| Eyepiece blinders: | No |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 15.5 x 11 x 7 cm |
| Construction: | Wood |
Glossary: 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. It still manufactured stereoscopes in 1952, although the heydays of stereoscopy were over by then. 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