Beck Stereoscope - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Achromatic Stereoscope

1858

Smith, Beck & Beck

London

England

Image of Achromatic Stereoscope

Large eye-pieces with arrows on mount to show correct alignment. Rack and pinion focusing. Removable mirror at the back of the viewer. Rosewood.

Identification:
Version with circular catches to box.

Serial Number:
1359 .

Notes:
6 Coleman St. address.

With:

  • Stand with fitted partitions for cards and for storing viewer. Leather covered recess on top of cabinet to position viewer when in use.
  • North Wales Illustrated. Francis Bedford. Nos. 744, 746, 809, 812, 820, 821, 860, 863, 868, 877, 2089, 2189.
  • Warwickshire Illustrated. Francis Bedford. Nos. 47, 52, 101, 2218, 2247.
  • Clevedon Illustrated. Francis Bedford. No. 1324.
  • Devonshire Illustrated. Francis Bedford. No. 1455.
  • Chester Illustrated. Francis Bedford. No. 358.
  • Monmouthshire Illustrated. Francis Bedford. No. 569.
  • Herefordshire Illustrated. Francis Bedford. 1 card.
  • Bristol Illustrated. Francis Bedford. No. 2399.
  • International Exhibition 1862. London Stereoscopic Co., London. Nos. 2, 12, 28, 119, 216.
  • Views of Yorkshire. George Wills. Scarborough. 3 cards, yellow.
  • Stereoscopic Views of Yorkshire. George Wills. Scarborough. 1 card, yellow.
  • English Scenery. Russell Sedgefield. 9 cards, buff. Wooden bridge in Gowbarrow Park. Widcombe Old Church 305. Fiennes Tower Dover Castle. Abbot's Mill Canterbury. Hastings All Saints Church 691. Rochester Castle 600. Choir and alter screen Winchester 350. View on the stream above Airey Forge Cumberland. Lady Chapel 388.
  • Views at and near Bury Hill Dorking. Universal Photographic Co. 121 Cheapside. W.H. Cootes retailer. 1 card, yellow.
  • Stereoscopic & Album Views of Devon and Cornwall. Way & Sons, Stereoscopic Depot & Artists Repository, Torquay. 13 Victoria Pl. 1 card.
  • Scottish Stereographs. M'Glasho's. 8 cards. Nos. 157, 162, 163, 170, 202, 268. Light yellow.
  • Priory Church Christchurch. J.W. Miell, Salisbury. Nos. 2, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13.
  • Views of Scarborough. John Gibb, Scarborough. 38 St. Nicholas St. 1 card.
  • Princes St. looking towards Calton Hill (Instantaneous). G.W. Wilson. No. 189, this is the image taken in 1860.
  • G.W. Wilson. 17 cards, 1 sold by Clifford.
  • Frank Haes, London. 2 cards showing zoo animals, 21, 30. Published by McLean & Haes, London. 26 Haymarket. Address dates to 1863.
  • W.F. Taylor, Windsor. 1 card d. 1862.
  • McFarlane, Glasgow. 1 card.
  • Archibald Burns, Edinburgh. 1 card.
  • Laing, Shrewsbury. 1 card.
  • Geo. Sheldon, Petersfield. 1 card, grey.
  • J & J Dutton, Bath. 1 card.
  • C.R. Lobb, Wadebridge. 1 card.
  • G.A.F. 5 tissue cards.
  • E. Ziegler. 8 tissue cards.
  • F.C. Earl, Worcester. 46 Broad St. 2 cards, yellow.
  • Laing, Shrewsbury. 1 card, Llangollen.
  • Llangollen, 6 cards.
  • London Stereoscopic Co., London. 54 Cheapside. 1 coloured card.
  • London Stereoscopic Co., London. 54 Cheapside. 1 card showing 37 Cheapside. Possibly taken from the L.S.C. address. Pale green mount.
  • F.S. Mann, Hastings. 9 cards of Hastings. 13 Market Pl. address on 1 card.
  • A. Ginder, Canterbury. Retailer. 6 cards, yellow.
  • Richard Allen & Son, Nottingham. 34 Long Row Market Pl. 1 card, yellow.
  • North Wales Illustrated. A. Findlow, Warwick. Nos. 117, 300, 301, 340, 341, 344. Dark yellow.
  • Bullock Bros., Royal Leamington Spa. 1 card of Kenilworth Castle, yellow.
  • Paul Emile Chappuis, London. 69 Fleet St. Retailer. 1 tissue card.
  • Robert Gogerty, London. 72 Fleet St. Retailer. 1 card.
  • Clifford. Retailer. 2 cards.
  • W.H. Trimnell, Canterbury. Retailer. 3 cards. 1 with 7 Parade address, buff. 1 with 9 Mercy Lane address, yellow.
  • John Gibb. Scarborough. Retailer. 5 cards.
  • Brighton Chain Pier. 2 tissue cards.
  • Ruins of Tintern Abbey. 8 cards.
  • Tintern Abbey. 5 cards, light yellow.
  • Ireland. 9 cards some sold by Marfield Dublin.
  • Tissue, 17 cards.
  • 111 other cards.

This was one of the better stereoscopes produced at the time both in design and construction. Achromatic lenses were used to improve colour rendering, these could be individually adjusted to suit the sight of the viewer. When in use the stereoscope sits on a box, the viewing angle can be adjusted as can the illumination of the slide by changing the position of a mirror, when not in use the stereoscope is inverted and folds away into its protective box. Cabinets were made to hold the stereoscope and a number of slides, these were produced in different sizes and finishes. A Smith, Beck & Beck pamphlet from 1860 lists the stereoscope at £3.10.0 in walnut and £3.3.0 in mahogany.

Two types of catches were used to secure the viewer in its box, the earlier type were hooks later circular catches were used. The viewer was also produced under the R & J Beck name (after 1865). Joseph Beck had patented an earlier viewer for use with stereo illustrations in books (BP 2112/1859).

References & Notes:
Wing, Stereoscopes: The First One Hundred Years, p. 35. Athenaeum 28/8/1858, p. 269. BJP (Then called The Photographic Journal) 1/1/1859, p. 4. 'Description and Price of the Achromatic Table Stereoscope' d. July 1860.


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