Series 2018.09.02 - Stereoscope Viewers

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Stereoscope Viewers

General material designation

  • Multiple media

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Series

Repository

Reference code

2018.09.02

Edition area

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Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • [between ca.1850 and ca. 1997] (Manufacturing)

Physical description area

Physical description

162 pieces of photographic viewing equipment : 159 stereoscopes, 4 magic lanterns, 4 projectors. - 843 photographs : 40 transparency reels, 755 stereographs, 28 film reels, 14 stereoscopic colour transparency cards, 6 three-dimensional stickers. - 7 sound recordings : 7 record sound tracks. - 1 textual record : 1 hand written note. 9 drawings ; tracing illustrations

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

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Archival description area

Custodial history

Scope and content

Series contains stereoscopic viewers, photographic images, and emphera. This includes a wide range of stereoscopes and three-dimensional viewers. Stereoscopes are devices used to view two mounted identical images as a single three-dimensional photograph commonly referred to as stereographs or stereoviews.

The first lens-based, portable stereoscopes were invented by Sir David Brewster in 1849 and presented at Crystal Palace during the London Great Exhibition between 1850 to 1851. Until a decade later when Oliver Wendell Holmes' adaptation of the Brewster stereoscope became the model for all later editions of stereoviewers during the 19th century. Holmes left his invention unpatented. This allowed other manufactures such as H.C. White, Underwood & Underwood and Keystone Viewing Company to mimic his design and increase production of stereoscopes and stereoviews. Ultimately, Holmes' decision would increase production and purchase of his invention.

Stereoscopes and stereo ephemera were meant for educational and entertainment purposes. Designs ranged from various materials like wood and aluminium, stereoscopes also had a large array of shapes and sizes from hand held to table top.

Following the 20th century, three-dimensional viewers became extremely popular. Some major manufactures such as GAF, Sawyer's View-Master and Tru-View produced iconic viewers made from metal, bakelite and other plastics. Originally, viewers and viewer emphera were developed for educational purposes but eventually became marketed as children's entertainment. Unlike stereoscopic viewers that could only look at single card stereoviews, three-dimensional viewers typically rotated black and white or colour transparency reels or multiview cards. Many original companies such as Sawyer's and GAF merged together but maintained the "View-Master" name. In 1989, the view-master brand was sold to Tycho until 1997 when Mattel and Tyco joined together. Now, view-masters are produced under the Fisher-Price title. View-masters were made from various materials and sizes. Some editions included built-in back lighting and sound recordings.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The collection was collected by the late Dr. Martin J. Bass and Gail Silverman Bass and donated to the Ryerson University Library and Archives by Gail Bass in 2018.

Arrangement

Materials have been arranged by type and re-numbered according to GMD format while following a hierarchical numbering system. No determinable arrangement exists for the material and so an intellectual order was imposed. In cases where items are part of a series attempts have been made to arrange them together. Subject terms and notes fields have been used to indicate contextual relationships.

Language of material

Script of material

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

Open. Records are available for consultation without restriction.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

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Script of description

Sources

Darrah, C. William. (1977). The World Of Stereographs. Gettysburg Pennsylvania: W.C. Darrah

The J. Paul Getty Trust. (2004). Gerry Union List of Artist Names Online. The Getty Research Institute. Retrieved from http://www.getty.edu/vow/AATFullDisplay?find=stereoscopes&logic=AND&note=&english=N&prev_page=1&subjectid=300162919

Wing, Paul (1996) Stereoscopes: The First One Hundred Years. Nashua, New Hampshire: Transition Publishing.

Accession area