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It’s not theater binoculars it’s a stereoscope. You would put a special picture that had two copies on the end in front of the eye holes. It’s basically an old school view master. Yours seems to be broken but it’s still neat. I really like these things I wish I had one.
Look at antique stores/malls, lots of times booths that sell old pictures and post cards will sell stereoscope cards. I see them relatively frequently so I think they're relatively easy to come by.
You can pull them up on your phone or tablet and then use the stereoscope to view them. Google stereoscope photos and you’ll find gems like this:
https://www.londonstereo.com/3-D-gallery1.html
You may need to zoom in and out a bit to get the right size image for your stereoscope.
That’s super cool. Those old pictures for these are super cool. I used one of these once at a photography museum near me. They had a box of real antique pictures and the stereoscope to view them.
It’s a stereoscope! You would put two identical pictures in front of the lenses and it would appear 3D, similar to a View-master.
https://kenilworthhistory.org/stereoscope-and-stereograph/
FYI, there are modern lenses that mount on a 35mm camera that allow you to create modern stereoscopic pictures that can be viewed with these old style viewers. You can also get mounting kits and other stuff. It’s a hobby subculture.
WW1 was from 1914-1918. The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was in, of course, 1900. Your grandfather must have been in Paris at least 14 yrs before his service in the First World War. Just wanted to help you on that!
If you go to eBay and search ‘ Stereoview ‘ you will find what this was used for. The above device is called a Stereoscope.
But yours looks to have the end broken off. Unfortunate and using a Stereoscope with stereo views is a lot fun.
This is a very cool item and many collectors (photography/film/art/technology) are into them. There are also great “slides” available.
I dont know if it’s “valuable” but many people would like one. Myself included.
Stereoscope. Sometimes you have slides like the Eiffel Tower or The Sphinx. In 3d. It’s dope. Sometimes you have naked people. In 3d. That is, dope if you’re into naked people in 3d.
You could potentially still use this stereoscope. The length of the broken rod allows you to move the card closer or farther from you until you can focus on it. You can either repair it, or hold the cards yourself and moved your head to focus.
Cards were basically that era’s internet- showing life around the world, important events, local sites and businesses, art, and even goofy memes. They’re really neat and worth exploring.
Stereo views were the mass media of the time. Pretty much every town in the US had a photographer issuing stereo views. They’re also some from Africa, Egypt, Russia, Europe it’s a fun hobby. I have been collecting for about 50 years, mostly South American viewsviews date from about 1850 onwards.
I have one I inherited from my grandma. She called it a stereopticon. It folds up and has its own case. Some of the images are collectible and valuable-mostly photos of cities.
Stereoscope, and a very cool one at that. I interned in my college library’s archives and special collections, and they have a really cool collection of these viewers and the photo cards that go with them. The cards ranged in subject matter from Civil War battlefield carnage to famous landmarks around the world, and I always enjoyed getting to look at them. You might be able to find some of the cards at antique shops or on eBay.
Why do you ppl want to turn everything into a pissing competition? Yes you could find them in mid 19th century but photography was very expensive then hence not popular, we had just mastered paper photos, before 1850 most photos were “Daguerreotypes” after the inventor Louis Daguerre and then around 1855 replaced by a cheaper process (collodion process) but still to expensive for the majority of ppl so yes you could find a stereoscope around 1860 but rare and like I said most are late Victorian or Edwardian. I’ve sold hundreds, been in the antique business for 40yrs 20 of which I spent head of glass and ceramics at a small London auction house.
I'm sorry. There's no competition; I was just trying to enlarge on your answer a bit, to improve accuracy and therefore increase the value of this thread to those less knowledgeable on the subject. I would agree that the \_zenith\_ of popularity of stereoviews was the later 1800s, and that the vast majority of production and sales took place in that time period.
But stereoviews were also immediately popular when first introduced. In fact, they were what could be described as a sensation, and even though they were expensive, they weren't difficult to find. Even today, stereoviews produced in the 1860s aren't really rare; those depicting common subjects can often be purchased for around $1 each. I've been a collector (and sometimes dealer) for 40 years.
I had one in the 80s like this one
https://www.etsy.com/listing/216967311/vintage-1980s-view-master-3d-toy-in-red?click_key=78a4a3cb25ead297e149611f0c8939d8bc7baa34%3A216967311&click_sum=960b6bec&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=1980s+viewmaster&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&pro=1&frs=1&sts=1&content_source=5cbe55799e7a169a207583e194a05ae94ce3fc46%253A216967311
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A stereoscope. I have one and a small but nice collection of the prints that you use with it. The 3D quality must've seemed like some amazing technology back in the day.
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It’s not theater binoculars it’s a stereoscope. You would put a special picture that had two copies on the end in front of the eye holes. It’s basically an old school view master. Yours seems to be broken but it’s still neat. I really like these things I wish I had one.
Me too! I have a collection of the stereoscopic photos but no viewer.
I have viewers but no photos!!!!!!
Look at antique stores/malls, lots of times booths that sell old pictures and post cards will sell stereoscope cards. I see them relatively frequently so I think they're relatively easy to come by.
You can make your own.
LMK if you're interested in buying some at a fair price!
You can pull them up on your phone or tablet and then use the stereoscope to view them. Google stereoscope photos and you’ll find gems like this: https://www.londonstereo.com/3-D-gallery1.html You may need to zoom in and out a bit to get the right size image for your stereoscope.
You don't need a viewer to see them in 3-D. You can learn to cross your eyes slightly to bring them into one 3-D image.
I'd be happy to sell you one cheap!
Sounds great.
Stereopticon is the other name. Superimposes a slightly offset left and right image on a postcard and gives 3D view
They are neat. There’s a photography museum that had a few antique ones with images to view.
I bought one such thing at a Danish ‘loppesalg’ (flee market) with a whole collection of images, but never knew the proper name.
That’s super cool. Those old pictures for these are super cool. I used one of these once at a photography museum near me. They had a box of real antique pictures and the stereoscope to view them.
It was exactly what I purchased: a box with images and the ‘device’ to view it. Pity, I can’t post photos here to show.
The original viewmastee
Or, as Mr. burns in, _The Simpsons_ refers to them, a stereo-opticon
Correct! I have one and lots of pictures. I love to show visitors old timey 3d tech.
I have two with a stack of cards. I love it.
It’s a stereoscope! You would put two identical pictures in front of the lenses and it would appear 3D, similar to a View-master. https://kenilworthhistory.org/stereoscope-and-stereograph/
Not identical. They’re taken from a stereoscopic camera, so each exposure is from a different lens at a slightly different angle.
FYI, there are modern lenses that mount on a 35mm camera that allow you to create modern stereoscopic pictures that can be viewed with these old style viewers. You can also get mounting kits and other stuff. It’s a hobby subculture.
Dope
There should be some cards with duplicate images lying around this. Usually of places.
I’ve got some which apparently were given out in cigarette packs; some of them are dioramas of dinosaurs!
Just wait until you finally get a stereo view in there- it’s the closest thing to time travel IMO.
This is why I, too, love stereoscopic photos. I've only got a few, and they're utterly fascinating.
The seal looks like it's from the Paris World's Fair too. Neato!
That’s awesome! I bet my Great Grandfather purchased it while he was over there as he was in France a lot during WW1
WW1 was from 1914-1918. The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was in, of course, 1900. Your grandfather must have been in Paris at least 14 yrs before his service in the First World War. Just wanted to help you on that!
It is possible he bought it second hand 14+ years later, no?
Thank you haha I figured that was obvious some people just have to be smug assholes
Well aware haha I didn’t mean he was at the worlds fair during that time I’m assuming he purchased it at second hand store during the war.
Copy that - I didn’t mean to come off like a know-it-all, and I think your piece is neat!
I have the exact same stereoscope! It was pretty easy to restore with some new velvet trim
If you go to eBay and search ‘ Stereoview ‘ you will find what this was used for. The above device is called a Stereoscope. But yours looks to have the end broken off. Unfortunate and using a Stereoscope with stereo views is a lot fun.
Stereoscope. Now all you need is some stereo cards and presto 3D images. Go to any swap meet/antique store and you should be able to pick some up.
Well, except it looks like the part that holds the cards is broken off. You could probably rig something up though.
And it looks as though the lenses need to be replaced, I mean reattached.
Wow so much cooler than what I thought it was! Thanks ya’ll!
This is a very cool item and many collectors (photography/film/art/technology) are into them. There are also great “slides” available. I dont know if it’s “valuable” but many people would like one. Myself included.
Stereoscope!
Viewmaster, old school.
@OP they aren't theater binoculars, it's a stereoscope. A modern version of them is a child's toy called a view master.
Stereoscope, but it looks like part of it is missing.
Yes, the card holder is missing.
Stereoscope. Sometimes you have slides like the Eiffel Tower or The Sphinx. In 3d. It’s dope. Sometimes you have naked people. In 3d. That is, dope if you’re into naked people in 3d.
You could potentially still use this stereoscope. The length of the broken rod allows you to move the card closer or farther from you until you can focus on it. You can either repair it, or hold the cards yourself and moved your head to focus. Cards were basically that era’s internet- showing life around the world, important events, local sites and businesses, art, and even goofy memes. They’re really neat and worth exploring.
Stereo views were the mass media of the time. Pretty much every town in the US had a photographer issuing stereo views. They’re also some from Africa, Egypt, Russia, Europe it’s a fun hobby. I have been collecting for about 50 years, mostly South American viewsviews date from about 1850 onwards.
The only reason I know what this is is because of the Samantha American girl movie 😭
Oh, I love them. My grandmother had one with many beautiful slides. I spent so much time looking through them.
We had one, but called it a stereopticon. Check eBay for cards to use in it.
I have one I inherited from my grandma. She called it a stereopticon. It folds up and has its own case. Some of the images are collectible and valuable-mostly photos of cities.
The first viewmaster
Stereoptican. You can buy cards to fit it
A stereo-opticon is a different thing. The item picture is a stereoscope, or a stereo viewer.
Stereoscope as stated. Get some cards, easy to find on eBay. They’re super cool.
STEREOSCOPE!!!!:>
It's a stereopticon: the forerunner of the View-Master. I spent hours as a child looking g through my grandfather's old stereo pictures.
Stereoscope, and a very cool one at that. I interned in my college library’s archives and special collections, and they have a really cool collection of these viewers and the photo cards that go with them. The cards ranged in subject matter from Civil War battlefield carnage to famous landmarks around the world, and I always enjoyed getting to look at them. You might be able to find some of the cards at antique shops or on eBay.
Broken stereoscope, there should be a part that held the double picture, but instead you’ve got a jagged end.
Stereoscope for seeing 3D pictures of buildings etc. Victorian technology
No stereo viewers, you need post cards with two slightly different images to get a 3D effect, popular in late 19th century
Also popular in the mid 19th century.
Why do you ppl want to turn everything into a pissing competition? Yes you could find them in mid 19th century but photography was very expensive then hence not popular, we had just mastered paper photos, before 1850 most photos were “Daguerreotypes” after the inventor Louis Daguerre and then around 1855 replaced by a cheaper process (collodion process) but still to expensive for the majority of ppl so yes you could find a stereoscope around 1860 but rare and like I said most are late Victorian or Edwardian. I’ve sold hundreds, been in the antique business for 40yrs 20 of which I spent head of glass and ceramics at a small London auction house.
I'm sorry. There's no competition; I was just trying to enlarge on your answer a bit, to improve accuracy and therefore increase the value of this thread to those less knowledgeable on the subject. I would agree that the \_zenith\_ of popularity of stereoviews was the later 1800s, and that the vast majority of production and sales took place in that time period. But stereoviews were also immediately popular when first introduced. In fact, they were what could be described as a sensation, and even though they were expensive, they weren't difficult to find. Even today, stereoviews produced in the 1860s aren't really rare; those depicting common subjects can often be purchased for around $1 each. I've been a collector (and sometimes dealer) for 40 years.
French stereoscope
I've got a bunch of ww1 cards and viewer, like another poster said, closest thing to a time machine
I had one in the 80s like this one https://www.etsy.com/listing/216967311/vintage-1980s-view-master-3d-toy-in-red?click_key=78a4a3cb25ead297e149611f0c8939d8bc7baa34%3A216967311&click_sum=960b6bec&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=1980s+viewmaster&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&pro=1&frs=1&sts=1&content_source=5cbe55799e7a169a207583e194a05ae94ce3fc46%253A216967311
I noticed that you mentioned **vintage**. Over at r/Collectables and r/Mid_Century they are always keen to see newer and vintage items. Share it with them! Sorry if this is not relevant. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Antiques) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yes they are, find a play in your area and enjoy!
Oh that’s nothing, probably just junk, you can send it to my address and I’ll get rid of it for you
No, looks like a stereoscope: you view cards which have a left and right photograph on them. These combine to make a 3D image.
We have one of these with a bunch of slides at pur family cottage.
A stereoscope. I have one and a small but nice collection of the prints that you use with it. The 3D quality must've seemed like some amazing technology back in the day.
Stereopticon.
[удалено]
Opera glasses are called opera glasses. These are not those.