Rare early Autochrome Diascope Viewer

Autochrome photography flourished from 1907 to the 1930's. Each autochrome is a unique transparency image; there is no negative. Autochrome plates were created by coating a sheet of glass with microscopic starch grains dyed red, green, and blue. These formed a screen of color particles. Carbon black was applied over the plate, filling in the spaces around the starch grains. Then a silver gelatin emulsion was applied over the color screen. When the plate was exposed, the base side was turned toward the subject being photographed, and the color screen acted as a filter over the emulsion. The developed plate rendered a positive color image with delicate color qualities. Often, etched or "frosted" glass plates were used as covers. The frosted glass increases the soft focus quality of the color starch grains which form the autochrome image.

A common way of viewing autochromes was to use a diascope. A frame at the top holds the autochrome plate allowing light from above to pass through the plate and strikes a mirror inside the device. The mirror is shielded from ambient light by cloth side panels. The viewer looks into the diascope and sees the reflection of the illuminated autochrome.

Viewer is in fine condition except for the side curtains which have both split in half. I put a small piece of magic tape to holder them together for the photo.

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