Nov 3, 2010
Here is a bit of stereo history I had a chance to get in touch with. Stereography is not a new thing, it was invented pretty much together with the traditional photography. So, the story goes that last weekend we’ve been checking out the attic at my friend’s appartment. And we’ve found lots of old photography hardware. Cameras, printing devices, films, light meters. Together with that we’ve found bunch of old photos on glass plates. The collection included lots of stereo photos, and a device for watching them. Welcome to the analog age.
Many of photos are in good color. Photos are dated around 1920-1930. Places are Soviet Union and Mongolia. It is a very strange feeling to get to touch those very old plates. I’ve been thinking for a long time that quality stereography is a very new thing. Well, those guys been doing it in color already about one hundred years ago.
Here is the stereodevice for watching:
Matte glass in the back. You need a bright light to see the image.
Photos are packed in the ancient looking boxes.
It seems that hundred years ago all the photography stuff was mostly done in Germany and Russia. At least the one that people used in Saint-Petersburg.
The photo plates.
This is just a small part of the whole collection. Colors sometimes are just amazing. Have no idea how they are achieved that kind of quality. Stereo is also pretty good, especially with colored photos.
More vintage cameras from the same attic:
Very old German camera with Compur lense. Don’t remember the exact name.
Compact Agfa camera. Can be quickly opened and closed.
Turist camera – kind of consumer camera back time then.
And some other stuff as well.
About those stereo photos, the idea is to scan those, restore a bit, and try them out with NVidia 3D Vision. Will report when something is to be seen.
