Stereoscopic Viewfinder, ca. 1900.

Beautiful stereo viewer made of wood, metal and bakelite. It was manufactured in France in the early 20th century (circa 1900) and has survived to our days in an excellent condition. In addition the item works like new, and by looking through its eyepieces we can watch images printed on 45x107 mm glass plates. The wooden box and the different component parts are very well preserved, turning this viewer into a very decorative item, as well as being a functional piece.The viewers box is made of solid wood and boasts delicate veneers and a lovely golden reddish color. It is rectangular in shape and shows off a nice shiny finish that enhances the woods attractive look. At one of its sides there are two eyepieces made of black baquelite and silvery metal. The glasses that close them are the original ones and remain in good condition, with no cracks or scratches. The eyepieces are connected by a metal plate, screwed to the box by a rod and a screw. To the right we can see a black baquelite knob (the pinion designed to focus the images) and the slot to insert the glass plates.The front side of this viewer is a wooden frame that supports a translucent glass. The glass lets the light in and so we can clearly watch the images printed on the plates. The frame has four brass tacks, one at each corner. It is connected to the box by a long hinge located at the bottom. Just like the eyepieces, the rest of the viewers component parts (lenses, pinion) are also in a particularly good condition.This striking stereo viewer is a very decorative piece that will let us enjoy vintage photos on glass plates.