The megalethoscope is a larger version (mega-) of the alethoscope, (Italian: alethoscopio, from the Greek “true”, “exact” and “vision”) which it largely superseded, and both are instruments for viewing single photographs with a lens to enlarge and to create some illusion of three-dimensionality.[1] They were used to view photographic albumen prints that were coloured, perforated and mounted on a curved frame. Night effects were achieved when viewing pictures in transmitted light from a fitted oil or kerosine lamp and a daytime version of the same scene was seen when lit by the reflected light from two side mirrors. They are sophisticated versions of the peep show,[2] and were designed by Carlo Ponti of Venice before 1862.[3][4] Lke the similar graphoscope which descends from the eighteenth century zograscope predating photography, these devices were, and are, often confused with the stereoscope which was of a different design and effect. Improvements to the megalethoscope over the alethoscope, mainly the addition of a compound lens, are detailed in The Practical Mechanic's Journal of 1867.[5]
- ^ "Alethoscope", The Free Dictionary, retrieved 2019-08-23
- ^ Wolf, Mark J.P. (2012). Before the crash : early video game history. Detroit: Wayne State U.P. pp. 36–7. ISBN 978-0-8143-3450-8. OCLC 809532788.
- ^ Paoli, Sylvia (2013). "Ponti, Carlo (c. 1822–1893) Optician and photographer". In Hannavy, John (ed.). Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography. Routledge. pp. 1144–1146. doi:10.4324/9780203941782. ISBN 978-0-203-94178-2.
- ^ Mannoni, Laurent (1970). Le Mouvement Continué. Italy: Mazzotta. p. 196. ISBN 88-202-1164-5.
- ^ "The Megalethoscope". The Practical Mechanic's Journal. III, Third Series (March 1868). London & Glasgow: Longmans, Green, Reader, & Dyer: 111. March 1868.