Magic lantern - Mechanical Special Effect slides

	Mechanical Special Effect slides
	An invisible drawing master, a wheel of live, shady moiré patterns....

The Cycloidotrope, or the invisible drawing master.


The Cycloidotrope (c. 1865) is a rare mechanical operated magic lantern slide which draws an infinite variety of geometrical patterns on a sooty glass disc while being projected. The mahogany box contains the slide, a pair of tongs to hold a glass during smoking over a candle or paraffin lamp, and some discs. On the cycloidotrope a stylus bar can be set in any position, altering its angle and length. By turning a crank handle, the stylus traces a regular, geometric pattern onto the glass disc. These patterns are seen to emerge on the screen. The box measures 11 3/4" x 4 3/4" (30 x 12 cm). Modern children know this instrument as a toy Spiralograph.

Wheel of Life (c. 1870). The Wheel of Life was invented by the English manufacturer of lenses and optical instruments Thomas Ross, but was manufactured and sold by many retailers. It is a kind of miniature phenakistiscope for projecting a repeating motion sequence of animated drawings on the screen. A glass disc with painted images and a shutter disc are revolving on the same axis. They are both driven by strings by means of a large double grooved pulley wheel. Note that the shutter disc spins at a faster speed relative to the picture disc and in a opposite direction. The latter is caused by the crossed string of the shutter drive. The box is marked: "With permission of the London Stereoscopic Co.".

An American version of the Wheel of Life. Measures 10" x 4 1/8" (25.5 x 10.5 cm).	Photos: ©Pierre Patau, antiquetoysandgames.com.

	Moiré effect. A double pulley mahogany framed slide with two, contra rotating, brass rimmed discs perforated with a regular pattern of small holes. When the discs are slowly rotated an continuous changing intricate pattern is observed. Size of frame 10 x 4 inches (25.5 x 10 cm).