The oldest magic lantern in the world

THE OLDEST MAGIC LANTERN IN THE WORLD

The oldest projector in the world, made by Jan van Musschenbroek.

Een groote toverlantaarn; op de beste en keurlykste manier gemaakt, met verscheide groote vergrootglazen, brandspiegel, en zeer zindelyk geschilderde figuren, Lyst der Instrumenten 6 a, achter V. MUSSCHENBROEK, Natuurk. [1739]

(A large magic lantern..... List of Instruments 6a, V. MUSSCHENBROEK, Physician [1739])

The oldest magic lantern, as far as we know, is located in Leiden, the Netherlands, in the Museum Boerhaave. The projector was made about 1720 by the Dutch instrument maker Jan van Musschenbroek and was once the property of Willem Jacob ‘s Gravesande, professor of physics at the University of Leiden. After his death in 1742 the university bought with foresight his whole collection. The purchase price of the projection lantern was one hundred guilders. By this purchase the Leids Fysisch Kabinet (Physical Cabinet, Leiden) got the best and most complete collection of scientific instruments in the world. About 250 objects from this Cabinet, among them the magic lantern, have been preserved. Together they form one of the most important collections of the Museum Boerhaave.

The wooden case stands on a, in height adjustable, base. Smoke and heat of the oil burning lamp was able to escape from the tin Engraving from Physices elementa mathematica, by W.J. 's Gravesande. fig. 1. chimney on the top of the body. According to the description in ‘s Gravesande’s book ‘Physices elementa mathematica experimentis confirmata’ the lantern was equipped with an oil burning light source with four flames. Thanks to a concave mirror and an ingenious lens arrangement the image was visible at a distance of up to ten metres. The height of the lantern was, including the chimney, 187 centimetres.

The objective lens system got lost, just like ‘2 cloths of linen weighed with lead and attached to a stick to show the figures of the lantern on them’; fortunately, however, the concave mirror was saved . Also a little wooden chest containing the original hand painted lantern slides is still with the device. The pictures on the glasses vary from lovely landscapes to terrifying satanic creatures.

WILLEM JACOB ’s GRAVESANDE

(Sept. 26, 1688, ’s Hertogenbosch, Neth.– Febr. 28, 1742, Leiden, Neth.) Dutch mathematician and physicist. He improved experimental physics by clear demonstration tests, for example the ‘ball and ring of ‘s Gravesande’ to show the expansion of metals when heated. For his experiments and discoveries he used instruments made on his behalf by Jan van Musschenbroek. ‘s Gravesande laid the foundations for teaching experimental physics.

Willem Jacob 's Gravesande. Engraving by J. Houbraken, ca. 1740.

JAN (JOHANN) VAN MUSSCHENBROEK

(Aug. 9, 1687, Leiden, Neth - Sept. 16 , 1748, Leiden, Neth.) the son of Johann Joosten, instrument maker, the first in Holland to construct physical instruments like pneumatic pumps, microscopes and telescopes. Jan also became an instrument maker and made instruments for ‘s Gravesande and for his brother Pieter van Musschenbroek, inventor of amongst other things the Leyden Jar, a device that could store large amounts of electric charge. Pieter succeeded ‘s Gravesande in 1740 as a professor at the University of Leiden.