Mechanical slides part 2

MECHANICAL SLIDES
PART 2

Chromatrope. By crossing one of the threads the glass discs revolve in opposite directions.	SINGLE PULLEY SLIDE Two glass discs are mounted at one end of a long wooden frame, one fixed and the other free to revolve in front of it. The revolving glass is mounted in a brass collar with a groove around its outer edge, forming a kind of pulley. A pulley wheel at the other end of the frame is turned by a handle. The glass disc is connected to the pulley-wheel by a thread or band, which drives the disc when the handle is turned. Most of the subject is represented on the fixed glass and a part on the revolving glass, so that they form a complete picture together. Often used subjects are windmills with revolving sails and watermills. Also DOUBLE PULLEY SLIDES are known.
Rotating political magic lantern slide showing a portrait of the American president Garfield combined with a chromatrope. Brass mechanism. Made by T.H. McAllister, Optician, N.Y. Label on side reads, "The Garfield Chromatrope". By turning the handle, the rotating glass slides have a kaleidoscope effect. Measures 11" x 4" x 1/4" (28 x 10 x 6.4 cm).
Gé Aarts, owner of the smallest movie theatre in the Netherlands, shows the single rackwork slide 'the emperors aquarium'. (Sometimes the fishes even swim backwards!) Dutch TV program 'Man bijt hond'.	SINGLE RACKWORK SLIDE One glass disc revolves in front of another. The movable glass is mounted in a brass collar with a series of vertical teeth around its upper edge, forming a rackwork rim. A steel pinion with a matching toothed-end engages the rackwork and a handle is fixed to its other extremity. On turning the handle the rackwork is driven round by the pinion, causing the glass disc to rotate. Again often used subjects are windmills and watermills.
Single rackwork slide in a wooden frame. Size frame: 6.75" x 3.75" (17 x 9.5 cm).
DOUBLE RACKWORK SLIDE This slide consists of two revolving glass discs, turning in opposite directions. Both discs are provided with rackwork rims which are engaged by a steel pinion with a matching toothed-end . The other end of the pinion extends through the frame and is provided with a handle. This system is mostly applied to the......
You'll find a 'real working' chromatrope at All about magic lantern slides, part 3.	CHROMATROPE It's difficult to give an impression of the dazzling brilliancy of the effects produced on the screen by the chromatrope. It resembles the kaleidoscope, with the addition of constant motion and rapid change. The two discs are painted with an almost endless variety of geometrical and other designs in brilliant colours. Turning the handle causes the discs to revolve in opposite directions, giving amazing effects. Sometimes the chromatropes are furnished with words like 'Welcome', 'Adieu' or 'Goodnight' to be used at the beginning and end of a performance. Even phrases like 'God Save the Queen' and 'Rule Britannia' are used, from which the most dazzling rays of glory are disseminated.
SPECIAL MECHANISMS INTERCHANGEABLE HEADS. This superb antique magic lantern slide from 1880 is operated by a very special mechanism. The fixed glass represents a body dressed in a wonderful red and white dress with laces. The moving glass has 14 heads: a beautiful girl, a monster with a red crest, a skull, a magician, a Turkish, a crook, a big head with glasses, an Arab, a Pierrot, a gentleman, an ass, a parrot, a cat, and a monkey. Each time you pull or push the rod, a new head is added to the body. The moving glass slide is set within a brass frame. The rod is also brass made. Its size: 9.7" x 4.9" (24.5cm x 12.5cm).
The solar system, showing the revolution of all the planets and their satellites round the sun. The crank must be turned 24 times to make a complete rotation of the planets around the sun.	ASTRONOMICAL RACKWORK SLIDE This rackwork slide was specially designed to demonstrate the movements of the solar system (showing only the eight planets known at that time).
	CYCLOIDOTROPE A nice effect was produced by the Cycloidotrope, a kind of spirograph. A black disc of smoked glass revolved within the slide frame, while a stylus on a pivoted arm traced a pattern in the soot against the moving glass. This appeared on the screen as a brilliant white line tracing a regular geometric design with an increasing complexity. The stylus could be reset while the cycloidotrope was rotated, producing interlocking rosettes and similar mechanical geometric figures.
	INTERCHANGEABLE MECHANICAL SLIDE A rare interchangeable mechanical slide sold by BENETFINK, Cheapside, London. c.1880. The pine case is fitted with five hand painted slides of a beehive, acrobat, windmill, fountain and goodnight wish, and twelve hand painted glass discs. If you want to read and see more about this curiosity, and why shouldn't you, click on the lid of the box to open it (exciting, isn't it?), or simply proceed with the next page.

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Last update: 28-06-2007.