Magic lantern - On the wild billows. part 1

part 1

On the wild billows.....
ships, boats, a raft..... everything that floats on the water
(but sometimes sinks).



A superb magic lantern double glass slide from 1880. The slides are hand painted and represent a sailing boat and a steamboat navigating in a French harbour by night. Because the glasses can be moved independently, the ships can even pass each other. Probably French, c. 1885.The frames measure 14.2 by 4.3 inches (or 36cm x 11cm).
Ships in a port. Magic lantern slide made by Ernst Plank (Germany).

	This very special mechanical rack work slide has an unusual mechanism known as a semi elliptical cam, which produces a realistic illusion of the rolling sea when the crank is turned round. The slide is set in a mahogany frame (cover removed) measuring 7" x 4.25".

Victorian lantern slide of a ship tossed in rough seas. The glass disc (diameter 3 1/2") encased in brass, rotates by means of a lever, and gives the appearance of a ship rocking. Dimensions 7" x 4 1/2" (18 x 11 cm).
Ships at sea.... and this magic lantern slide is also made by Ernst Plank (Germany).

	A view of a Steamboat Race on the Mississippi. The title of the slide is on the side of the frame that measures 7 x 4 inches; the image is 3 inches across. This is one slide of a pair of dissolving views. Here we see the 'Natchez' racing with the 'Eclipse'. Which one shall be the winner?
Fortunately a slide of another set shows what happened only a second later. The crew of the Natchez asked too much from the ships engine and it exploded with such a power that even the cover glass of the slide was cracked.
	The rectangular slide above measures 3.25" x 4" and is labelled: P.O.S.of A-No. 14.
A dramatic picture of the large British steamship the 'Lusitania' sinking. The Lusitania was sunk by Germany submarines off the coast of Ireland May 7, 1915 during WWI. Since there were Americans aboard, sentiment in the US grew about declaring war on Germany. However, America did not join WWI directly until later. It is a wonderful image that quite possible came from the London Illustrated News. The slide above has the picture set in a wooden frame, size 7" x 4". The glass is 3.25" in diameter.

	'Ich hab' mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren...' This wonderful hand painted slide shows you why...... The unusual mahogany frame measures 8.25 x 4.25 inches.
		Lovely hand painted lever slide measuring 11.25 x 18 cm. When the lever is operated the passenger's cabin rocks as if the ship is on the high seas.
A set of five magic lantern slides titled 'Fated Ship'. It represents American ships in different situations. The wooden frames measure 7 by 4 inches (or 18 x 10 cm). The manufacturer is T.H. Mc Allister, optician N.Y.
	The labels read: "III Fated Ship.-1 Leaving port" "III Fated Ship.-2 Sailing with fair wind" "III Fated Ship.-3 Among the Iceberg" "III Fated Ship.-4 On a ...rock" "III Fated Ship.-5 On Fire!"


	Hand painted mechanical magic lantern slide with an eccentric movement. It measures 17.5 x 10 cm.
More......