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Animatoscope

It is made of steel, gun metal, brass, and aluminium. It is fitted with an alum bath, mounted on a metal standard in such a way that it can be brought into use or thrown out with a touch of the finger. It is provided with a double combination achromatic lens, of 2'4in. focus, giving an 8ft. picture at 20ft. from the screen. The lantern and apparatus are fixed upon an adjustable platform attached toa light iron column, giving steadiness and solidity to the picture. The lantern is fitted with a powerful limelight jet, and is also adapted to receive an electric arc lamp. It is also provided with an arrangement by which ordinary lantern slides can be shown upon the screen the same size as the animated pictures, also the name or title of each film can be projected before it is shown. The price is £60.54.

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The Optician, vol. 12, 19 novembre 1896, p. 128. [cité dans Barnes John, The Beginnings of The Cinema in England 1894.1901, vol. 1, 1894.1896, Exeter: University of Exeter Press, p. 168 et 170.

J. OTTWAY & SON, of 178, St. John Street Road, Clerkenwell, E.C., have just placed on the market a new machine for the projection of animated photographs, which they have named the "Animatoscope," the special features of which are the absence of vibration or flicker of the picture, the smooth working, and the fact that the film is not torn or injured. It is very substantially constructed of steel, gun-metal, brass, and aluminium, and is mounted on a iron stand, which gives solidity and steadiness. The lantern is fitted with a powerful arc lamp, or may be used with the limelight, and judging from the opinions expressed of it, it marks a distinct advance in this branch of photography.

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The Photographic News, vol. XLI, nº 53, vendredi 1^er janvier 1897, p. 13-14.

The Animatoscope
J. OTTWAY & SON.
This apparatus is designed for projecting animated photographs, and there is no vibration or movement of the pictures on the screen, no flicker, and it works perfectly smoothly.
The workmanship throughout is of the very best, and all the mechanical details carried out to the utmost perfection, combining the fineness of a watch with the strength of an engine. It is made of steel, gun metal, brass, and aluminium. It is fitted with a novel form of alum bath, mounted on a metal standard in such a way that it can be brought into use or thrown out with a touch of the finger.
It is provided with a most powerful double combination achromatic lens, two-and-a-half focus, giving an eight-foot picture at twenty foot from the screen.
The lantern and apparatus are fixed upon an adjustable platform attached to a light, but solid, iron colum, giving steadiness and solidity to the picture.

The lantern is fitted with a powerful limelight jet, giving 1000 candle power, and is also adapted to receive an electric arc lamp.
It is also provided with (and this is a distinct novelty) an arrangement by which ordinary lantern slides can be shown upon the screen the same size as the animated pictures, also the name or title of each film can be projected before it is shown. One light only is required, and it can be readily switched from the one to the other, thus keeping the screen occupied while fresh films are placed in position. Price, complete as above, and securely packed in strong travelling case, ready for use, 60l.
Elecric arc lamp with mechanical adjustments for accurately centreing the light, 4l.

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The Year Book of Photography, 1897, p. 542-543.

THE ANIMATOSCOPE
J. OTTWAY & SON
The name given to this particular apparatus for showing animated pictures is the animatoscope, of which an illustration is here given.
It is mounted on a strong metal pillar, to which the driving wheel is fastened. By means of adjusting screws, the desired tilt of the lantern is easily attained. Means are provided for showing slides other than those in connection with animated photography, and this is arranged in an ingenious manner, the pulling of a lever causing the reflecting mirror under the condenser to be placed at the requisite angle, and also at the same time drawing the illuminant doser to the condenser so as to better illuminate the slide, which in this instance is placed on a small platform, to which the lens support is erected. The so-called alum trough, which of course contains only water, is pivoted in such a manner that it can if required be brought into use or withdrawn by a mere touch of the finger. The above style of instrument is best adapted for halls, but this firm are also making a smaller and lighter apparatus for private rooms. In this instance, the heavy stand is dispensed with, and the driving wheel attached in a convenient position.

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The Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. Almanach & Annual 1897-98, p. 123-124

OTTWAY'S "ANIMATOSCOPE."
This machine, which is of very solid construction, employs a Maltese cross actuated by two pins on a smooth disc as the intermittent mechanism. The shutter is serrated at its edges, and thus passes a shadow with an ill-defined edge across the screen, as in the older forms of dissolving view apparatus. When it is desired to project ordinary views during film-changing, a mirror is turned up at an angle of 45º before the condenser. The light then, instead of passing through the front mechanism, is deflected upward through a horizontally placed stage carrying an ordinary slide. The light then passes through an ordinary projection lens placed above the stage, and so, by a deflecting mirror, to the screen.

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Henry V. Hopwood, Living Pictures, Londres, The Optician & Photographic Trades Review, 1899, p. 175.