Mr Punchs Shop : Optical Toys
| | |  | Circa 1919 German Boxed Bing Fine Magic Lantern(Reference #01-3-04)
Bing produced this magic lantern circa 1919 as can be deduced from the combination of trademarks on the box lid and the side of the lantern. It is made of painted tinplate and is in very good original condition. The only flaw is some slight rusting to the removable chimney, where the paint has blistered with the heat. The lantern is a superior two-lens version with a movable front lens for focusing. The slide insert will accommodate two sizes of slide: 2.5" and 3". The original spirit burner is missing and no replacement is provided. The box suffers from age-related wear, and is missing one side edge of the lid. The label is intact, but somewhat grubby; it depicts a small boy viewing a slide of an exotic faraway land, using his Bing Fine Magic Lantern. The original instruction leaflet is also included. (G) US$190.00
Price: £95.00 | |
| 1930s Boxed English Mickey Mouse Magic Lantern Slides(Reference #00-6-33)
Produced by Ensign of London with the permission of Walter E Disney, these glass magic lantern slides are still contained in their original box. Measuring 5.25" by 1.5", the two slides feature eight black and white vignettes and tell the story of 'The Delivery Boy'. The slides are complete and intact, and do not suffer from any cracking or loss of glass. There is some crinkling to the transparent paper covering, but this does not affect the projection of the images in any way whatsoever. The slides would also presumably have originally had a reading sheet; sadly, this is now missing. The box is in good shape overall, but does suffer from minor paper loss and scuffing. However, if you collect vintage Disney optical toys, then this could well be of interest. (#) US$34.00
Price: £17.00 |  | |
|  | 1900s George Carette Glass Magic Lantern Slides (11)(Reference #3-3-53)
These miniature glass slides (4.25" x 1.25") are all marked GC & Co N which presumably stands for George Carette & Company of Nuremburg. Carette was in business in Nuremburg between 1886 and 1917, and was particularly well known for the fabulous magic lanterns that he produced. This is an interesting series of slides, both because it is so clearly trade-marked and because each slide depicts five figures or scenes in a row without any demarcation between the images. The slides depict oriental clowns juggling, clowns' heads, tourist locations such as the pyramids, the comic woes of an angler, comic characters x 3, anthropomorphic animals, the comic woes of a jockey, children in the snow, and sea- and land-scapes. The slides are in good condition for their age, although they do suffer from slight scuffing to both the glass and the green tape. They are still eminently usable for their original purpose. (WR) US$30.00
Price: £15.00 | |
| 1860s Views of London Glass Optical Slides (8)(Reference #9-8-01vl)
These two glass slides each measure 1.75" x 6.75" and are designed to be shown in a magic lantern. The slides show eight views of London, including the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Nelson's Column, and the River Thames with a steam launch in the foreground. This last slide shows the river without the embankment, so the slides can be dated to pre-July 1870 when construction on the embankment finished. The slides are in very good condition for their age, with just minor wear to the black surrounds and the red tape. (WR) US$28.00
Price: £14.00 |  | |
|  | 1920s Czech Mains-Operated Tin Mickey Mouse Projector(Reference #7-5-173)
Issued under licence from Walt Disney, this Mickey Mouse projector (5" x 5" x 3") appears, at first glance, to be a battery-operated one from the 1930s, of which many examples abound. On closer inspection, however, it turns out to be a purpose-built 1920s mains-lit projector, as evidenced by the original Bakelite two-pin plug and the manufactured entry of the cable into the housing. The bulb is original and, although small enough to fit, is a 250 volt, 11 watt bulb that can therefore be plugged directly into the mains without an adaptor. The bulb is clearly very old, but surprisingly it still works. There appears to have been some attempt either to lengthen the focal length of the lens tubing or perhaps to replace a lost piece, but the projector still works perfectly. When a slide of the right size is inserted into the projector, you can project a small image onto a white surface about 12" away. We have done so, and the results are very satisfactory. Please note that the projector is not designed to operate with film strips. The projector is in very acceptable condition for its age and still has its original Mickey Mouse label stuck to the base, although about one-quarter of this is missing. The surface of the projector does suffer from age-related wear consisting of some loss of lacquer which has exposed the metal underneath. However, it's a real bonus to find an unusual projector such as this in full working order. (#) US$98.00
Price: £49.00 | |
| 1960s View-Master Reels in Cases (5)(Reference #9-12-03zz)
These full-colour Kodachrome reels are in mint condition and are still contained in their original cardboard cases. They are all scenic views of Switzerland and comprise 2007 the Susten Pass, 2012 the Bernese Oberland, 2013 William Tell's Country, 2014 Lucerne, and 2020 Geneva. As there are absolutely no defects to report, these sets would make a stunning addition to any collection of View-Master memorabilia. (WR) US$24.00
Price: £12.00 |  | |
|  | Unusual 1930s Japanese Kaleidoscope(Reference #03-2-4)
Simply marked JAPAN, this 7.5" tall cardboard-covered metal kaleidoscope is unusual in that it just has eight segments of plain glass at the end. To make pretty patterns appear, you have to focus it on something (it works well with television programmes) and then turn it round manually. It is only at this point that you see the usual type of kaleidoscopic patterns. The kaleidoscope is in good condition for its age; all it suffers from is slight scuffing to the cardboard covering and some age-related wear to the metal rim. It would make an interesting - and unusual - addition to any collection of optical toys. (#) US$30.00
Price: £15.00 | |
| 1960s Boxed Hong Kong B/O 8mm Toy Projector(Reference #7-5-165)
Made in Hong Kong in the early 1960s, this is a perfect replica in miniature of an 8mm ciné projector of the period. It measures 7" x 3.5" x 6.5" (high) and is made of hard plastic in three separate pieces. The two halves of the carrying case come apart to reveal the projector (battery-operated bulb, hand-turned reels) and one half has a white 'Kiddy Cinema' paper screen stuck to it, while the other half stores the two reels. The projector is in very good working condition and has no damage to the plastic. The instruction sheet is printed in two colours and is undamaged apart from where it has been folded in half where it is now creased. The box is complete, but is worn at the edges and has tape repairs to the top and bottom (at one side). In much the same way as toy magic lanterns at the turn of the last century mirrored the adult world, so does this toy reflect the popularity of standard 8mm home movies - long before the arrival of videos and camcorders. (600 *) US$100.00
Price: £50.00 |  | |
|  | 1930s German Boxed Child's Binoculars(Reference #6-6-28)
This child's optical toy is clearly marked MADE IN GERMANY on both the toy itself and on the box. Measuring 4" x 2", the binoculars are sturdily made of metal and glass and are in very good condition and full working order. The promotional copy on the box proudly declares that the binoculars are TWICE MAGINIFYING. There is some slight surface wear to the toy, and some staining and creasing to the box, but there are no other defects to report. This delightful miniature item would enhance any collection of optical toys. (WR) US$30.00
Price: £15.00 | |
| 1960s German Hokus Pokus Optical Illusion(Reference #5-0-32)
Contained in its original paper packet (somewhat torn), this HOKUS POKUS optical illusion measures 2" in diameter and was made in Germany in the 1960s. It is made of printed tin and houses a mirror on its back; this is somewhat tarnished with age. The front part is in three sections; the middle one is hinged and shows two different pictures of Spanish dancers (male and female), one on a yellow background and one on a blue background. When shaken, the picture can be changed from one to the other without the audience being aware of how this has been achieved. This is a simple but clever little optical illusion in good condition. It works as it should. Both the toy and the packet are marked MADE IN GERMANY DBGM, but the actual maker is unknown. (25 *) US$24.00
Price: £12.00 |  | |
|  | 1910s Boxed Bing Magic Lantern Slides (12)(Reference #01-3-04a)
Leading Nuremburg toy manufacturer Big made a wide variety of magic lanterns and slides. This boxed set of 'superfine magic lantern slides' dates from the period between 1900 and 1919, according to the style of the trademark on the box lid. It comprises 12 glass slides of comical pictures. Each slide measures 8.5" x 3" and illustrates a comic episode in four vignettes. Each episode is perfectly comprehensible and includes such scenes as children stealing apples from an orchard, children inciting a bull with a red rag, and children stealing a bather's clothes, leaving him with nothing but his underwear and an umbrella. None of the slides is cracked or broken and, apart from some surface crazing, there are no defects to report. The box is complete, intact, and has an extremely attractive label, but does suffer from some scuffing to the edges. This is an extremely handsome set of early glass slides that would enhance any collection of optical toys. (950 WR) US$190.00
Price: £95.00 | |
| 1960s Boxed 8mm Movie Viewer and Films(Reference #7-5-163)
Made by Argus of England in the 1960s and still in its original box, this 8mm movie viewer promises that you can view what you want - when you want. Just turn the handle and see your own personal home movies in action! Made of black and grey plastic and measuring just 6" long, the viewer is complete, apart from the empty take-up spool which is missing. However, as the spools are a standard size and are provided with the films, this is not particularly serious. Instructions are also missing. The viewer itself is in excellent condition, but the box has suffered somewhat and is crushed, torn and scuffed. The viewer is accompanied by three boxed slapstick comedy old time home movies, for use with any 8mm projector. The first features Charlie Chaplin in Charlie and the Housebreakers. Charlie helps to outwit a gang of crooks, but gets himself injured in the process. The second features Laurel and Hardy in a Fishy Caveman's Story. How our two friends catch fish and extract teeth are two of the funny incidents in this film. The last film features Ben Turpin in Harem Knights. Ben is forced to change clothes with a runaway princess. When captured by guards, he gives quite a surprise. The films are all complete on their plastic reels and, apart from some small tears, the boxes are also in good condition. (WR) US$70.00
Price: £35.00 |  | |
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