Toronto. In the days before motion pictures, people congregated to see ‘magic lantern‘ slides projected on a screen with commentary by the projectionist or an assistant.
In order to add motion to the slides, some had added means to move parts of the slide projecting a sense of motion on the screen. Back at the beginning of 2009 we had the pleasure of hearing a talk on the magic lantern and its slides given by ‘Professor’ Lindsay Lambert.
The definitive book on these wonderful machines and slides is “Encyclopaedia of the Magic Lantern” published back in 2001 by the “Magic Lantern Society” of Great Britain based in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
Past president of the PHSC and retired sports photographer, Les Jones, sent me an email (actually a few) mentioning his acquisition of a Kaleidotrope slide. The reverse of the slide is shown at left. Les commented. “Bought this lot almost sight unseen as it seemed interesting. Included these two – possibly an Eidotrope but marked Kaleidotrope”. The slide shown is 6-7/8 inches long by 4-1/4 inches high. It is 3/4 inch thick to accommodate the 3-1/2 inch diameter disk and its spring.
The slide is described as, “a slide with a single perforated metal or cardboard disc suspended on a spiral spring. The holes can be tinted with colored pieces of gelatin. When struck the disc’s vibration and rotation sends the colored dots of light swirling around in all sorts of shapes and patterns. The device was demonstrated at the Royal Polytechnic Institution around 1870 and dubbed “Kaleidotrope” when commercial versions were marketed.” The Encyclopaedia gives a similar definition using slightly different words.
Drop in on one of our events this fall – you may find a Magic Lantern or a slide for your collection (or other interesting photographic memorabilia).