W. H. Lewis Cylindrical Drum Stereoscope

United States, 1870s

Avid collectors may recognize this rare stereoscope from the cover of Paul Wing’s book, “Stereoscopes — The First One Hundred Years,” and discussed on page 128. It has the same two blind patents on the lens support as the Lewis-Page box stereoscope in our collection:

• July 5, 1870 — using lazy tongs to extend the lens support for focusing (E. K. Page’s 1870 patent #104,990)

• March 26, 1878 — folding the stereoscope away into the card storage box (W. H. Lewis’ patent #201,804)