SOLD Victorian Magic Lantern Kaleidoscopic Chromotrope #2

Regular price $80.00

I've had a couple of these, but it's been a long time--they seem to have become harder and harder to find, and more and more precious. Happily I found two on a recent trip to Pennsylvania, listed individually today. Produced by some makers of magic lantern slides, these mechanical devices were called chromotropes, producing kaleidoscopic effects via two painted glass slides, with one of them rotating when one turns the handle; low tech marvelousness! I tried to capture the changing patterns as best as I could via a sequence of photos (couldn't manage taking video while also turning the handle)--but much better in action! 

6 3/4" long including handle x 2 3/4". Good condition, handle turns smoothly, works beautifully. There is a bit of old writing on the wood, which I have not touched.