1860 Smith Beck Self - Casing Wood Stereoscope Outstanding
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:2897970 |
So every year around this time a bunch of crazy people like me head to a small town in Illinois where pretty much the only thing on the agenda is antique phonographs. We buy antique phonographs; we sell antique phonographs; we do wild and crazy impersonations of people who buy and sell antique phonographs; we talk about antique phonographs -- we talk a lot about them; we share pictures of our antique phonographs like they're pictures of our kids; we exchange hilarious stories about... what you sometimes find in antique phonographs (at least we think they're hilarious stories; not many other people do). Anyhow, that's where I'm going this week -- to the annual antique phonograph hootenanny. Before I take off, though, I want to share with you not pictures of my kids, but rather another exceptional assortment of mechanical, technical and musical antiques, a few of which I suspect will catch your eye. And don't forget, you can click this link to quickly add and then save me to your favorite seller list and Ebay will automatically send you updates when I put similar new auctions online.
Here's an ancient and outstanding Smith, Beck & Beck self-casing stereoscope. This deluxe viewer was manufactured in London when Charles Dickens was still busy writing novels, and it features some of the best lenses that were ever used on a device of this type. As you can see in the photographs, the viewing mechanism is mounted on the underside of the cabinet lid, so that when the stereoscope is not in use, it can be stowed away inside its own base.
Condition is excellent throughout, and the original finish on the burl walnut cabinet is still smooth, with only scattered minor marks consistent with age and authenticity. Brass carrying handle is original and in excellent condition. The brass hardware is clean, the thumbscrews are all original, the riser strut is undamaged, and the rack and pinion focusing mechanism is working properly. No missing or damaged brass clips, and the lenses and can still be easily rotated for perfect stereoscopic alignment. The reflector on the underside of the lid flap has been replaced, but the viewer is otherwise original throughout and in museum quality condition. The stereoscopic effect is outstanding.
Can be used with almost any type of stereo image -- cards, tissues or full size glass slides.
I'll include a period correct (ca. 1860) stereo card when it ships out. If you grow tired of looking at it, thousands of other stereocards are available from ebay vendors on a regular basis.
That's about it. Auction participants with no prior feedback history or with hidden feedback should contact me before placing a bid. Buyer prepays and includes shipping.
Bidders Outside The USA Please Note: There's a glitch in ebay's USA site software that's preventing my Ebay Store from being exported to several non-USA ebay sites. Here's the workaround. If you click on my feedback score, you'll be taken to my feedback page. There, on the right side of the page, you'll see a link that allows you to "view items for sale." If you click that link, you'll see everything that I currently have listed. Alternatively, if you click my seller name, "firebottles, " you'll be taken to my seller page, where you can also view everything that I currently have listed. I apologize for the glitch. I'm trying to get it resolved with ebay.
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