Vérascope No. 6bs

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Le Vérascope is a compact stereo camera that was introduced in 1893 by Jules Richard. It was the best selling stereo camera of its time and the production of various models continued well into the 1950s.

In 1893, Richard introduced the new 45 x 107 mm glass plate negative format for stereo cameras. It was a lot more compact than the large glass slides that were common those days. These large formats required large and expensive cameras and limited photography to professional photographers or wealthy amateurs. With the introduction of the 45 x 107 mm format, Richard introduced the Vérascope stereo camera which was the first camera that supported the new format. The compact and relatively easy-to-operate camera revived stereo photography in the early 20th century in France. Vérascope Richard was not only the name of the camera, but became a trademark for a wide range of hand-held and revolving stereoscopes, developing tools and accessories. It made stereo photography accessible to amateurs.

In addition to the 45 x 107 mm Vérascope, models for the 6 x 13 cm and the less popular 7 x 13 cm format were introduced later. Many different glass plate models were introduced well into the 1920s. The last model was the Vérascope f40 for 35 mm roll film, which was produced until the 1950s.

Specifications

Manufacturer:Jules Richard
Year of introduction:1893 (first model), 1920 (6bs model)1
Year of manufacture:19212
Type:Stereo camera
Serial number:40305
Negative type:Glass
Negative format:45 x 107 mm
Lens:Two Boyer Saphir f/4.5 anastigmatic lenses
Serial number lens:385 and 410
Lens aperture:f/4.5, f/8 and f/16
Focus:Fixed focus
Shutter:Guillotine shutter with settings P and I
1/500 to 1/9 sec.
Dimensions (L x W x H):13.5 x 9.5 x 6 cm (with attached plateholder)
Construction:Metal
Other features:Plate holder has serial number 43033

First patent

Number:FR227316
Title:Systéme d’apprareil photographique stéréoscopique simple.
Filing date:21-01-1893
Publishing date:
Applicant(s):Jules Richard

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

  1. Perin, J. (1993) Jules Richard et la magie du relief . Volume 1, p. 100. ↩︎
  2. Ibid, p. 161. ↩︎

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