When I was little
my grandparents
had an old stereoscope
had an old stereoscope
and a stack of the photo cards
that they had collected.
that they had collected.
It was
"not a toy"
my sweet grandmother would tell us
and on certain occasions
"when we were good"
"when we were good"
(and our grubby little hands were clean)
we were allowed to sit
and look at the cards.
we were allowed to sit
and look at the cards.
:)
I LOVED looking at the cards!
It was so much fun to see
a photograph come alive
behind the magnifying lens
of the viewer.
For those of you who aren't familiar
with the stereoscope,
this magnifying viewer has two lens
and a separator between the eyes.
Cards with two photographs slide into a
holder on an adjustable arm.
The images on the card appear
to be the same but they are not.
Each image is taken from a slightly
different angle.
The eyes see the photo and the brain
puts the two images together creating a 3-D effect.
Victorians could visit countries around the world, states from coast to coast, scenes of romance and humor, religious stories from the Bible, and landscapes and snapshots
from every corner of the globe
without ever leaving their parlor armchair!
These 3-D viewers were popular
from the 1830's through the 1930's.
In 1861, Oliver Wendell Holmes designed the most
popular version of the viewer,
you can read more about that here.
For those of you who aren't familiar
with the stereoscope,
this magnifying viewer has two lens
and a separator between the eyes.
Cards with two photographs slide into a
holder on an adjustable arm.
The images on the card appear
to be the same but they are not.
Each image is taken from a slightly
different angle.
The eyes see the photo and the brain
puts the two images together creating a 3-D effect.
 |
| Religious scenes of the life of Jesus. |
Victorians could visit countries around the world, states from coast to coast, scenes of romance and humor, religious stories from the Bible, and landscapes and snapshots
from every corner of the globe
without ever leaving their parlor armchair!
These 3-D viewers were popular
from the 1830's through the 1930's.
In 1861, Oliver Wendell Holmes designed the most
popular version of the viewer,
you can read more about that here.
Unfortunately,
I am not sure
whatever became of my grandparents
stereoscopic viewer
and its card decks.
:(
I am not sure
whatever became of my grandparents
stereoscopic viewer
and its card decks.
:(
 |
| Scenes from American national parks. |
When I started having children
I thought it would be fun to own
a couple stereoscopic viewers
I thought it would be fun to own
a couple stereoscopic viewers
to share the same tradition with my kids.
(I wanted them to experience the simplicity of entertainment
during the period of life before TV and Gameboys!)
If you are from the Midwest,
you may have been to the Wisconsin Dells.
The Dells are now known
as a vacation spot
specializing in themed water parks,
but the Dells were originally made famous
by images taken of
the gorgeous sandstone cliffs
along the Wisconsin River
made known by stereoscopic cards.
A man named H.H. Bennett,
was a photographer
who specialized in landscapes,
and he began capturing
the gorgeous sandstone rock formations
along a seven mile stretch
of the Wisconsin River in 1868.
He took his images and had them
inserted into the widely popular card decks
that were sold in catalogs with the viewers.
Up until that time,
the Dells were virtually unknown
but once the cards got out, tens of thousands
of visitors wanted to visit
the beautiful glacier-made
landscapes they had seen on the cards.
As a result, hotels and accommodations
started popping up and a train line
was built to bring the
visitors to the area.
My family and I visited this area
about 9 or 10 years ago
and when we stopped by the museum
and realized that the booming tourist spot
was put on the map
by stereoscopic cards
well, that was just the best story ever!
Ever since then,
I have been trying to get these
Wisconsin Dells cards and have found just a few.
Hard to come by.
Sentimental collecting.
:)
Do you have a stereoscope?
Have you been to the Dells?
(I wanted them to experience the simplicity of entertainment
during the period of life before TV and Gameboys!)
 |
| Old scenes of the earlier days in Chicago. |
If you are from the Midwest,
you may have been to the Wisconsin Dells.
The Dells are now known
as a vacation spot
specializing in themed water parks,
but the Dells were originally made famous
by images taken of
the gorgeous sandstone cliffs
along the Wisconsin River
made known by stereoscopic cards.
A man named H.H. Bennett,
was a photographer
who specialized in landscapes,
and he began capturing
the gorgeous sandstone rock formations
along a seven mile stretch
of the Wisconsin River in 1868.
He took his images and had them
inserted into the widely popular card decks
that were sold in catalogs with the viewers.
Up until that time,
the Dells were virtually unknown
but once the cards got out, tens of thousands
of visitors wanted to visit
the beautiful glacier-made
landscapes they had seen on the cards.
As a result, hotels and accommodations
started popping up and a train line
was built to bring the
visitors to the area.
 |
| Photo courtesy of the H.H. Bennett collection. |
My family and I visited this area
about 9 or 10 years ago
and when we stopped by the museum
and realized that the booming tourist spot
was put on the map
by stereoscopic cards
well, that was just the best story ever!
Ever since then,
I have been trying to get these
Wisconsin Dells cards and have found just a few.
Hard to come by.
 |
| Photo by H.H. Bennett |
Sentimental collecting.
:)
 |
| I found an entire boxed set of Rome and the Vatican City and the arts of the area. Gorgeous images. |
Do you have a stereoscope?
Have you been to the Dells?
 |
| Butt wait --- there's MORE. These two cards showing babies who seem to have lost their diapers always used to CRACK my two kids up! |
13 comments:
I have my grandparent's stereoscope and cards, plus we have collected more cards along the way. My kids and grandkids always found them fun (when their little hands were clean!!). Sally
Alison,
What a great introduction to these wonderful inventions of the past. I don't think any of our family owned a stereoscope. I don't think I've ever looked through one. Wouldn't it have been great to be able to receive you're grandparent's set?!
Such a fun post.
Karen
Alison, enjoyed this informative post. I don't have a stereoscope, not did I know much about them. Thanks for sharing this fun interest of yours. What fun to share this tradition with your family.
Happy Mother's Day!
One set of my grandparents had a viewer and set of cards, but who knows what happened to them. And yes, I did know about the Dells but not about their cards. Great remembering, thanks. Vicki in Louisville KY
My mother had one of these at home when we were young. I remember looking at the few cards she had but don't remember the scenes. These are wonderful cards you've shared today and the ones of The Dells are so neat. I wonder if that man got across that space between the two formations! He's up pretty high. Oh my. I guess humans have always been risk takers. :) We had an old viewfinder with photo wheels. I guess they were the 'modern' version of the stereoscope. Enjoy your weekend.
I remember that my first grade teacher had one (1949-1950). All the kids were amazed by it. I'd love to see one again.
Happy Mother's Day Alison!
I have not come across a stereoscope.
Hi Alison,
I love your post! what fun information. I have never looked into a stereoscope, only seen them in the movies. What a treat it must have been for you as a child.
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth
great memories for me too!
I have an old wood stereoscope...was always fascinated by those "pre View Masters"....I love your cards and the one with the man jumping from one rock to another is amazing!...Who would have thought that those cards were also great advertising for places like the Wisconsin Dells...glad you have such sweet memories of them!
Alison, what an informative post! We lived in Milwaukee for a couple of years. I never knew this about the Dells! How interesting!
Alison,
loved seeing the card photos you showed. one of the dealers in my old store brought one in with a set of cards it was fun looking thru it, I was sad that I didn't grab it up! Lived in Green Bay WI for 3 years but never made it to the dells.
Rebecca
Just got back on your blog. Feed burner issues. We have my Aunt's stereoscope with 44 cards. Many were of the Cincinnati area where she lived. Funnily enough I just saw one on OKL. . I like to show mine with a Victorian hand or coin operated music box with several dozen metal records. I have to keep the crank put away when the grands are here. Neat site, thanks.
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