Astronomical rackwork animation magic lantern slide (195 mm by 175 mm, or 7" by 3 3/4") manufactured by Carpenter and Westley, London, circa1890.

This mahogany, brass and glass rackwork slide was designed for scientific and astonomical demonstrations of planetary functions. This slide shows the ecplise of the Sun, with the transit of Venus.

Carpenter and Westley and Newton and Co (named after Sir Isaac) were the two premier magic lantern, slide and scientific apparatus manufacturers of the time based in London, and right until the end of the Magic Lantern Age in the two decades around the turn of the 19th century.

Like all mechanical chromotrope slides, the projected slide is animated by the projectionist turning the handle and rotating a painted circular glass pane in front of a fixed pane that projects animated effects.