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STEREOSCOPE
STEREOSCOPE

STEREOSCOPE

Datec. 1883
Dimensions8 x 33 x 17.5 cm
Object numberHF.70.661.3 A-B
DescriptionStereoscope mask-like eyepiece has wrap-around goggle design with a riveted construction. The eyepiece is screwed to a wooden base. There is a thin wooden septum that is screwed to the base between two magnifying lenses to separate images. The base has a turned wooden handle which folds parallel to the base by means of a metal bracket. There is also a sliding "T"-bar rack with wire holder for the stereograph cards. Brand name: The Saturn Scope.



Narrative
Stereoscopes were a very popular form of entertainment during the 19th century. Many versions of the viewing device, such as the one on display, were created over the next century. This Saturn Scope is a newer version of the original hand-held stereoscope, invented in 1861 by Oliver Wendell Holmes. Holmes gave away his patent so that everyone could enjoy this technology!

The lenses blended the two images on the cards into a single 3-D image. Images on the cards were hugely varied. These two cards show some examples of available images: the excavation at Pompeii and a detailed domestic scene. These images allowed the user to ?visit? other places and scenes. Virtual Reality technology is a modern version of this activity.