Herman CASLER

(Sandwich, 1867-Canastota, 1939)

casler herman portrait 

Jean-Claude SEGUIN

1

David E. Casler (New York, [1827]-05/1893) épouse Margaret Lipe (New York, [1830]-). Descendance :

  • Melvin L. Casler (Illinois, 08/02/1848-Fort Plain, 22/12/1927) épouse (New York, 07/01/1919) Mary Ellen Edwards (Ephratah, 07/02/1842-Fort Plain, 01/10/1922).
  • Joseph W. Casler (Illinois, [1849]-).
  • Mary Casler (Illinois, [1852]-).
  • Margaret Casler (Illinois, [1857]-).
  • Herman Casler (Sandwich, 12/03/1867-Canastota, 20/07/1939) épouse (Fort Plain, 05/12/1894) Fannie Ehle (Port Plain, 12/05/1869-Canastota, 15/06/1947). Descendance:
    • Harry Ehle Casler (Canastota, 29/01/1900-Hancock, 03/04/1998) épouse Estella Roberts (New York, 1900-). Descendance :
      • Catherine Roberts Casler (Syracuse, 20/11/1930-Peterborough, 10/05/2005) épouse (/08/1953) William Andrew MacKenzie Jr. (Ann Arbor WA, 20/05/1928-Danbury, 05/01/1996). Descendance : 
        • William Andrew MacKenzie (1955-1983) épouse [MacKenzie]. Descendance :
          • enfant
    • Roger Herman Casler (Canastota, 27/02/1903-New Milford, 27/12/1973) épouse Mary, "Betty" Connor (1912-2008). Descendance :
      • Margaret Ann Casler (01/07/1944-11/03/2001) épouse (1971) Richard J. McAteer.
      • Mrs Clifford J. Alire
      • Laura L. Casler

miss Millicent Snell of Fort Plain is the guest of her uncle, Herman Casler (1902)

2

Les origines (1867-1893)

En 1855 et en 1860, la famille est recensée à Somonauk (Illinois) où le père, David E. Casler, exerce la profession de fermier. En 1863, il figure sur les listes de recrutement de la guerre de Sécession. Herman Casler est né à Sandwich (Illinois) et a grandi à Fort Plain (New York). On connaît peu de choses de son enfance et de ses premières années :

Herman Casler was born March 12, 1867, at Sandwich, Ill., being the son of David E. and Margaret I. Casler. He received a common school education, and entered up on business as a bookkeeper in a large manufacturing industry, continuing in such service until 1888.


The Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 5 février 1898, p, 1.

En 1889, il travaille pour la Winning Hose Company :

Fort Plain.
FORT PLAIN, Aug. 21.-[special]
[...]
Herman Casler and Harley Snell are at Plattsburgh, in uniform representing the Winning Hose Company.


The Utica Observer, Utica, mercredi 21 août 1889, p. 5.

Peu après, il s'installe, avec sa mère Margaret et, probablement, sa future épouse, à Syracuse, où il se forme, comme apprenti, auprès de son cousin, l'inventeur Charles Ehle Lipe (Fort Plain, 20/03/1851-Syracuse, 17/03/1895), dans son atelier d'usinage :

[...] When he entered the employ of C. E. Lipe, mechanical engineer, at Syracuse, and there attained high proficiency in mechanical drawing, designing, and in the conduct of manufacture in the higher grades of mechanical product.


The Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 5 février 1898, p, 1.

syracuse c e lipe building
Le C.E. Lipe building (208 South Geddes Street. Syracuse) (c. 1895-1900).

En 1892, Herman Casler, qui figure, comme "électricien", sur le recensement de Syracuse, va rejoindre la Marvin Electric Drill Company, fondée deux ans plus tôt par Henry N. Marvin, William J. Gillett et Charles Ehle Lipe :

In 1892 he was made superintendent of the Marvin Electric Drill Works at Canastota.


The Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 5 février 1898, p, 1.

 marvin harry 1895 marvin electric rock drill works
The Marvin Electric Rock Drill Works (East North Canal. Canastota) (c. 1895)
Source: HENDRICKS, 1964: illustration nº 5.

À la fin de l'année 1893, l'inventeur Herman Casler dépose, le 21 mars, un brevet pour un appareil photographique, le "Photoret" (EU509,841. 28/11/1893) auquel est associé Henry N. Marvin et qui va connaître un succès certain.

koopman photoret 02 koopman photoret 01
The Photoret
US509841A·1893-11-28
The Photoret (publicité)

À cette époque, Herman Casler et William K. L. Dickson entretiennent déjà des relations proches comme le montrent des photographies prises, précisément, avec le Photoret.

casler herman dickson william photoret 01 casler herman dickson william photoret 02
Dickson et Casler Dickson et Casler
HENDRICKS, 1964: illustrations

Le Mutoscope et le Biograph (1894-1895)

Le succès du kinetoscope Edison au cours de l'année n'est pas étranger à l'idée de réaliser un nouvel appareil d'images animées. Henry N. Marvin, qui a déjà été son associé, pousse Herman Casler à imaginer un feuilleteur, le "Mutoscope" dont le brevet est déposé en novembre 1894 (US549,309. 05/11/1895).

casler herman portrait 02
Herman Casler (C. 1895)
Source: National Museum of American History
Reproduit dans: SPEHR, 2008: 400.

Il en expose ainsi le principe général :

This invention relates to what I choose to call "mutoscopes" or devices for showing the changing positions of a body or bodies in action.
My object is to produce a device for exhibiting pictures, photographs, or similar likenesses so arranged that by successively bringing them into the line of vision they will show the changing positions of the body or bodies and reproduce to the eye the acts of the performers; and to that end my invention consists, first, in arranging the pictures, which have been specially taken very rapidly so as to catch each new and changing position of the body, in succession; second, in providing means for successively and rapidly exposing them to the line of vision, and in the several other new and novel features and combination of parts hereinafter described, and which are specifically set forth in the claims here unto annexed.


US549,309. 05/11/1895

Tandis qu'Herman Casler est occupé à la conception de son "Mutoscope", William K. L. Dickson commence à envisager de quitter ses activités au sein de l'entreprise Edison, ce dont le soupçonne, en tout cas, William Gilmore, le nouvel homme fort auprès du savant américain. Peu après le dépôt de son brevet, Herman épouse, en décembre 1894, une maîtresse d'école, Fannie Ehle, parente de Charles Ehle Lipe. C'est également à la fin de cette même année, qu'il va s'atteler à la conception d'un appareil de prises de vue, complément naturel du mutoscope, après s'être rendu à New York pour rencontrer Harry Marvin, qui témoigne, et E. B. Koopman :

A. Mr. Cassler [sic] started active operations to produce this machine immediately after an interview in this city between Cassler, M. [sic] B. Koopman and myself, at which interview it was arranged that Mr. Koopman should furnish certain moneys to assist in developing the invention, and at that time I remember that I stated to Mr. Koopman that in my opinion Mr. Cassler would be able to have the construction under way in about six weeks or by Christmas time.


Patent Office Interference ·18461 [reproduit dans HENDRICKS, 1964: 8.]

Si l'on en croit ce souvenir, il faudrait donc situer cette rencontre vers le mois de novembre 1894. Quelques essais pourraient avoir eu lieu à l'occasion de la visite de Koopman à Syracuse dont témoignage Perry Phelan, collaborateur de Charles E. Lipe :

Q. 16. When was the construction of this machine commenced, if you remember.
A. The latter part of 1894.
Q. 17. When was it completed; I mean the machine part of it?
A. February 15th, 1895.


Patent Office Interference ·18461 [reproduit dans HENDRICKS, 1964: 12.]

C'est ce que confirme Harry N. Marvin dans ses déclarations :

A. Mr. Koopman was present at a test of the machine during the latter part of February or on or about the first of March, 1895.


Patent Office Interference ·18461 [reproduit dans HENDRICKS, 1964: 14.]

Si l'on ne dispose pas d'informations relatives à cet essai, il pourrait avoir été effectué, selon Gordon Hendricks,  avec une première bande représentant Casler et Marvin.

0000 01
Herman Casler and Harry Marvin sparring for the Biograph
HENDRICKS, 1964

À peine quelques semaines plus tard, le 17 mars, Charles E. Lipe, le trésorier de la Marvin Electric Drill Company, fondée en 1890 par Harry N. Marvin, disparaît. Pour sa part, en avril, William K. L. Dickson, considérant qu'il a rempli son contrat avec Thomas A. Edison, quitte la société. On le retrouve, curieusement, à Canastota dans les derniers jours de juillet où il interprète trois solos à l'occasion d'une soirée organisée, le 24 juillet, par The Ladies' Aid society à l'église méthodiste. Or, à peine quelques jours plus tard, le tournage d'un combat de boxe entre Al Leonard et son élève Bert Hosley a lieu à Canastota :

A WONDERFUL MACHINE.
A Canastota Invention that beats Edison’s Greatest Effort.—A Successful Test.
THEE MACHINE INvented by Herman Casler, of Syracuse, now connected with the Marvin Electric Drill Company was given a trial at Mahan's machine shop at noon Monday. Mr Casler’s invention is upon similar lines as that of Edison’s kinetoscope, but having a much more rapid movement and making a picture seven and one-half times as large. The invention consists of two machines each totally unlike the other. One, the kinetoscope, is for taking the views which are afterwards presented in the other machine called the kinetograph. These are the names now used by the Edison people but the Casler machines when put on the market will be known as something else.
A platform was erected in the rear of the machine shop and Photographer H. J.Dobson, of Syracuse, soon arranged the kinetoscope for photographing two boxers, engaged in a sparring exhibition. The boxers were experts, Prof. Al. Leonard and his pupil, Bert Hosley. For more than one minute they went at each other in a scientific manner and both received several hard blows in the encounter. The kinetoscope clicked along at the rate of sixty exposures a second and at the end of one minute had taken 3,000 pictures as the encounter progressed. These views will be mounted on a long ribbon and when placed in the kintograph made by Mr.Casler will magnify many times and will reproduce the contest to anyone looking into the machine. The points of superiority in the new invention are that the kintograph [sic] is as portable as a hand satchel and the cost of its manufacture so low that it will come into popular use. It will be of incalculable value to agents who wish to show customers the actual workings of intricate machinery and will amplify the scope of instruction in technical schools. It will also be in demand for parlor amusements, the views being easily adjusted and may be purchased as stereopticon pictures are now obtained from supply houses. A stock company composed of New York capitalists has been organized to place it on the market.
Mr. Casler has also invented a camera that can be carried in the vest pocket which has produced perfect results and will be sold by the Magic Introduction Co.at $2 each. It has a capacity of fifty ribbon exposures and can be transformed into a camera with four plate exposures.


Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 10 août 1895, p. 3.

0001
Sparring Contest at Canastota (nº 1)

On ne peut écarter l'idée que le tournage ait été réalisé, de fait, par William K. L. Dickson. En outre, une petite annonce est publiée, toujours au mois d'août, par Herman Casler, à la recherche d'une vaste maison :

Wanted To Rent
A house of seven or more rooms. Address  H. Casler care of Marvin Electric Drill Co.


The Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 31 août 1895, p. 1.

Il y a là, sans doute, l'indice d'une prochaine installation plus durable à Canastota.

The American Mutoscope Company (1895-1899)

La nouvelle société, "The American Mutoscope Company" voit le jour le 27 décembre 1895. Elle est sise à Jersey City et compte un capital de $2,000,000 :

The Manufacture and sale of photographic, mutographic and mutoscopic implements and appliances, implements and apparatus in any manner connected therewith, or for projecting the same, and the using the same for exhibition or other purposes, and the selling or leasing or otherwise disposing the same, or the right to use the same.


HENDRICKS, 1964: 30.

The New York Times complète l'information :

Jersey City.
[...]
-The American Mutoscope Company yesterday filed articles of incorporation in the Hudson County Clerk's office, at Jersey City. The capital stock is 2,000,000, in 20,000 shares, and is all paid in. The incorporators are George H. Lawman of Greenwich, Conn.; William C. Smith of Brooklyn, and James Fielder of Jersey City.


The New York Times, mercredi 1er janvier 1896, p. 8.

Les quatre responsables en sont Herman Casler, William K. L. Dickson, Elias Koopman et Harry Marvin.

American Mutoscope and Biograph Founders 1895
Henry N. Marvin, William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, Herman Casler et Elias Bernard Koopman
22 septembre 1896 [D.P.]

Afin de monter la nouvelle société, les collaborateurs cèdent leurs droits de certaines de leurs inventions : le "Mutoscope" et le "Hand-held Mutoscope" (Casler), les "improvements of Mutoscope" (Marvin).

Pourtant, ce n'est que le 26 février 1896 que le brevet de la "Kinetographic Camera" est déposé, mais qui ne sera enregistrée que plus de trois ans plus tard (US629,063. 18/07/1899). L'invention est connue sous les noms de "Mutograph", "Mutagraph" ou "Biograph",  mais c'est cette dernière appellation qui finit par s'imposer. C'est probablement peu après qu'est construite la nouvelle usine "Marvin & Casler" où doivent être sont fabriqués les mutoscopes et les biographs. L'agrandissement des locaux de l'usine, au début de l'année 1897, dénotent l'importance prise par la production des appareils :

Canastota, Jan. 13.-An addition is being built on the Marvin and Casler's works on Robert-st.


The Syracuse Daily Journal, mercredi 13 janvier 1897, p. 3.

 

Clarence S. Jackson

https://archive.org/details/magicstageillusi00hopk/page/506/mode/2up?q=mutograph

 

TRADE MARKS
30,564. Dated September 21, 1897. The word "Biograph" applied to Consecutive-View or Moving Picture Apparatus. American Mutoscope Company. The Photographic times, vol. XXIX, nº 12, décembre 1897, p. 591.

All the special machinery used in Marvin & Casler factory in this village, where the mutoscope and biograph are manufactured, has been specially invented by Mr. Casler , the amount of elaborate special machinery turned out by Mr. Casler during the past year would ordinarily be considered ample work for a decade.


The Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 5 février 1898, p, 1. 

1897 mutograph scientific american
"The Mutograph photographing the Pennsylvania limited when running at the rate of sixty miles an hour.
PHOTOGRAPHY AS AN ADJUNCT TO THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION

1899 biograph

 

 

 

 

ANIMATED PICTURES OF THE POPE.
Crowning Triumph of a Canastota Man's World-Famed Invention.
The American Mutoscope company, of New.York, for which Marvin & Casler, of this village, manufacture the biograph and mutoscope, created a sensation last week by publicly announcing that it had obtained a series of twenty five excellent biograph views of Pope Leo XIII moving about in the gardens of the Vatican. The pictures were obtained by W. K.-L. Dickson, of London, last summer, but the success of the enterprise was not made known until all of the long strips of films had been developed and the holy pictures (the biograph camera and the films were ducly blessed by the Holy Father) were found to be perfect.
Mr. Dickson, it will be remembered, was located in Canastota three years ago and conducted experiments for Inventor Casler in bringing the biograph to a state of perfection. It required a great amount of diplomacy for the company's representative to obtain admittance to the Papal Court. The pictures are by far the most valuable in the long list which Mr. Casler’s biograph has. Catholics throughout the world hail the picture with joy and the public generally is made to wonder more than ever at the great motion picture device of Canastota most talented citizen.
The pictures show His Holiness walking about with attendants in the Vatican gardens, pronouncing the benediction and [-]iding in his landau. The views have been shown to members of the clergy and Catholic students in Washington. The clergy is loud in its praises of the wonderful aminated pictures, which will be shown to the public in common with others of the biograph, but it is expected exhibitions will be given under the auspices of Catholic societies.
At the biograph and mutoscpe works a BEE reporter learned that Mr. Casler and his assistants are now hard at work perfecting a small mutoscope, that will sell at a reasonable price to be equipped with the pictures of Pope Leo. It is proposed to place these machines on the market and Catholics throughout the world will be able to view the animated scenes in the Vatican gardens at their own homes.
Harry N. Marvin, of Marvin & Casler vice-president and general manager of the mutoscope company, was in town Saturday. He says that, in a way, the announcement of the pictures has been regarded as the greatest piece of news since the war, by New York papers.The Canastota Bee, Canastota, 3 décembre 1898, p. 2.

KOOPMAN HERE
Three of the "Big Four" in Biograph Business Confer.
Hernan Casler of Canastota; H. N. Marvin, of New York and Canastota, and E. B. Koopman, of London, Engl., three of the "big four" in the handling of Herman Casler's inventions, the biograph and the mutoscope, arrrived in town yesterday morning from New York and during the day had a business confrence at Marvin & Carler's laboratory. The "big four" in the biograph and mutoscope business, are the gentlemen named and W. K. L. Dickson, of London, formerly of this village, who won fame by taking pictures of Pope Leo in the gardens of the Vatican at Rome.
Mr. Koopman has been in this country two weeks and will probably return to England in a few days. He is accompanied on his trip to this country by Mrs. Koopman, who is in New York. Mr. Koopman is managing director of the International Mutoscope syndicate, and also one of the directors of the British Mutoscope and Biograph company. He formerly assisted in managing the American Mutoscope company.The Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 1er avril 1899, p. 1.

Back From Europe
Herman Casler, of this village, inventor of the American biograph and the mutoscope, and his partner, H.N.Marvin, of New York city, are back from a month's trip to Europe. Mr. and Mrs. Casler arrived in Canastota Tuesday, Mrs. Casler having been vistiting in Fort Plain with her young son, while Mr. Casler was abroad.
The trip of Mr Casler and Mr. Marvin was taken on account of their biograph and mutoscope interests abroad. Thay divived their time between London, and Paris. Mr. Casler says that all the companies handling his picture machines in Europe are doing well.The Canastota Bee, Canastota, samedi 3 novembre 1900, p. 1.

 

La Marvin & Casler Co.: 1905 (?)

Marvin & Casler Company of Canastota, (machinery;) capital, $50,000. Directors-H. N. Marvin of New York, Herman Casler, and L. R. Cooper of Canastota.The New York Times, New York, mardi 24 mai 1904, p. 11.

THE MARVIN & CASLER Co., Canastota, N. Y., is the new name of the concern formerly known as Marvin & Casler, engaged in the manufacture of machinery. The directors for the ensuing year are H. N. Marvin, president; H. Casler, treasurer, and L. R. Cooper, secretary and manager. Their factory has been enlarged and new machinery added, increasing their facilities. They state that they are especially equipped for the manufacture of machines in quantities with interchangeable parts.Machinery, vol. 2, nº 12, août 1904, p. 48.


En 1895, M. Casler s'est associé aux frères Lumière pour développer une version de style américain de leur appareil de visualisation cinématographique Kinora. L'année suivante, lui et Harry Marvin fondèrent la société Marvin and Casler qui produisait du matériel cinématographique, des appareils d'arcade et divers types de machines allant des moteurs d'automobile aux lecteurs de paume. 

 
Marvin & Casler are soon to erect a large addition to their factory in Canastota, N. Y.American Machinist, vol. 20, nº 35, 2 septembre 1897, p. 37.
 

608,175. Reciprocating Electric Drill. Herman Casler, Canastota, N. Y. Application filed March 18, 1898.
Energizing coils contain a magnetic core and are enclosed in a casing composed of an exterior shell, heads or ends and an interior lining tube, all of iron or steel, the lining tube and heads being brazed together. Western Electrician, 13 août 1898, p. 98, 

 

To Be Made in Canastota.
The announcement made in New York last week that the American Mutoscope Company had secured several excellent pictures of Pope Leo moving about in the Vatican gardens, and which delighted Catholics and attracted public attention generally, is of more than passing interest to Canastota people. Although the Mutoscope company which owns these views has its main office in New York, it is at the laboratory and factory of Marvin & Casler in Canastota that all the wonderful biographs and mutoscope machinery is made. The biograph, the most successful of motion picture devices, which will reproduce the holy pictures, is the invention of Herman Casler of that village, who only a few years ago was employed in C. E. Lipe's shop in Syracuse. The mutoscope, which was also conceived by Mr. Casler, will probably handle the views, too. The views were taken last summer. The biograph camera used was made in Canastota. The moving pictures of the Pope will not be exhibited except under the supervision of the Catholic church in America. They will probably be shown to the public by the biograph under the auspices of Catholic societies.Madison County Times, Chittenango, vendredi (matin) 2 décembre 1898, p. 2.

 

Wanted—Eight first-class machinists on light experimental work. Call on or address at once Marvin & Casler, Canastota, N. Y.American Machinist, 15 juin 1899, vol. 22, nº 24, p. 53-547. 

Lima, Octubre 27 de 1899
Visto este expediente, seguido por don Julio R. Loredo, en representación de don Herman Casler para obtener patente de privilegio para su invento que denomina "Mutuscopio" o arbitrios para mostrar las posiciones de cambio de un cuerpo ó cuerpos en acción, cuyos pormenores corren por duplicado en el mismo expediente; y
Considerando:
Que es patentable otro invento y que se han observado las prescripciones señaladas en el artículo 2.º de la ley de 3 de Enero de 1896; de acuerdo con el dictámen Fiscal que precede y las conclusiones del informe de la Sección de Industrias;
Se resuelve:
Conceder á don Herman Casler, privilegio por diez años para su invento denominado “Mutuscopio,” en la forma que consta de la explicación que por duplicado acompaña; sin que el Gobierno garantice la novedad, prioridad ni utilidad del invento, fijándosele el plazo de dos años máximum para su explotación en el país y sujetándose al artículo 8.º de la ley de 28 de Enero de 1869.
En consecuencia, expidase la patente respectiva á favor del recurrente, sin perjuicio de tercero; previo abono de los derechos de cancillería.
Regístrese, comuníquese y publíquese.
RÚBRICA DE S. E.
Basadre y Forero.
El Peruano, Boletín oficial, año 59, Tomo II, Lima, viernes 21 de noviembre de 1899, p. 576.

 

25 septembre 1900: "H. N. Marvin and Herman Casler will sail for London, England in September 22th in the interest of the American Mutiscope and Biograph company.

 
 

TO MOVE TO THIS CITYHerman Casler, the Mutoscope Manufacturer, in Town.
Herman Casler of Marvin & Casler of Canastota manufacturer of mutoscopes and mutoscope material for the American Mutoscope & Biograph company, was in Syracuse yesterday looking through several factory sites. His visit to this city was primarily a business errand to Smith & Cattery's, that firm doing work for Marvin & Casler, which cannot be done at Canastota because of the large business the firm is doing which taxes its factory to the utmost. But he also looked at the Stearns Automobile factory owned by the Cobb estate and the motor vehicle factory next door, owned by W. E. Hookway. Mr. Caster was reticent about his intentions. From what he said, however, those who talked with him were led to believe that he might move his factory to this city should a good site he found.
When Mr. Casler was seen at Canastota this morning by a Herald representative he said: "I was obliged to go to Syracuse yesterday to arrange to have work done there that I cannot have done in this village, owing to the limited capacity of the local plants. Having plenty of time to spare. I accepted the invitation of some Syracuse friends and went with them through a number of buildings which would make excellent manufacturing sites. I have no intention though of leaving Canastota at this time."Syracuse Evening Herald, Syracuse, 25 juillet 1902.

 
marvin harry 1904 marvin casler
 Scientific American, vol. 91, nº 4, juillet 1904, p. 70.
 
HERMAN CASLER'S SERVICES WANTED
Canasiotans Desire Him Again as Commissioner.
IMPROVED THE WATER SUPPLY
On Account of His Business. However. Mr. Casler May Decline—Other News of Interest.
Special to The Journal.
CANASTOTA, March 22,—A meeting of the board of trustees will be held under the chairmanship of Village President Travis on Monday evening for the purpose, among other things of appointing a water commissioner to succeed Herman Casler, whose term has expired and who, it is understood, feels unable to accept a reappointment on account of stress of business, and the fear that be cannot do justice to the office.
Herman Casler has held the position of water commissioner for three years, and although a very busy man in local manufacturing circles, has succeeded as none before him have ever succeeded, in improving Canastota's water supply, both in regard to quality and quantity, and his administration has been highly satisfactory to the citizens.
The office Is a very important one and calls for a man of high ability. There is, therefore, general regret at the reported determination of Mr. Casler to decline reappointment to this position which he has shown himself so well qualified to fill.
Contrary to the general rule, the office in this case is seeking the man— and strenuously at that. Mr. Casler owes it as a duty to the community in which he lives, and as a public-spirited citizen having at heart the welfare of that community, to assume, if it is within the range of possibility, the duties of water commissioner of Canastota for the ensuing term.The Syracuse Journal, Syracuse, samedi 22 mars 1902, p. 3.
 

CANASTOTA
VILLAGE APPOINTMENTS.
Herman Casler Will Probably Succeed Himself as Water Commissioner.
CANASTOTA, March 21 — Appointments will be made by the Board of Trustees at their meeting this evening. The principal interest is centered in the appointment of water commissioners to succeed Herman Casler, whose term has expired, and Arthur N. Ellis, the village President-elect. The probabilities are that Mr. Casler will be reappointed, and that Frank T. Benjamin will succeed Mr. Ellis.
For Village Attorney the names of three candidates are mentioned, S. M. Wing, the present incumbent: John L. Robertson and D. F. Wallace. The former is the probable appointee.
M. Eugene Barlow is mentioned as likely to succeed D. C. Twogood as Police and Fire commissioner, and John D. Hurley will probably succeed himself as Street Commissioner. Frank G. Bell will be reappointed Village Clerk.Evening Herald, Syracuse, 1904.
 

Fire at Canastota. Canastota, June 30.—H. N. Marvin's large barn in the rear of his residence at North Peterboro street, was burned yesterday afternoon. Employes of the Marvin & Casler manufacturing plant nearby, saved most of the contents of the barn, including Herman Casler's two automobiles and Mr. Marvin's horse, carriages, etc. The men at the shop also did good work with a couple of lines of hose in protecting the factory and a nearby tenant house. The barn was worth about $1,200 and was partially insured. The origin of the fire is unknown.The Rome Daily Sentinel, Rome, samedi (soir) 30 juin 1906, p. 1.

1912 casler boring heads
August 1912 Machinery

 
casler herman 1917 portrait
Herman Casler
Syracuse Herald, 1917
 

The Thirty Members of the Board of Directors of the City Bank (Syracuse Herald, 1917)

 

M. Casler est finalement devenu propriétaire unique avant de finalement vendre l'entreprise en 1919. Ses dernières années ont été consacrées à la conception de caméras de cinéma, de projecteurs et au développement d'équipements cinématographiques spécialisés.

1928 casler offset boring heads
American Machinist, 27 décembre 1928, p. 94.
 

M. Casler et son établissement ont également apporté d'importantes contributions au développement de la photographie couleur pour écran en construisant une succession d'appareils photo pour la société Prizma, dont un avec une ouverture d'obturation à 270 degrés avec une efficacité lumineuse extrême et d'autres plus tard avec une traction à deux cadres. -down pour une exposition simultanée des images complémentaires afin d'éliminer les franges, une malédiction courante des premiers efforts de couleur.

 
 

Herman Casler est resté actif pratiquement jusqu'à la toute fin, déposant son dernier brevet en 1937. Il est décédé à l'âge de 72 ans dans sa ville natale de Canastota, le 20 juillet 1939. Bien qu'en grande partie oublié au moment de sa mort, M. Casler a a été présenté dans l'histoire des premiers films ces dernières années, et a été reconnu depuis longtemps comme l'un des premiers pionniers du cinéma. Réf : Biographie 2017 (URL : http://www.victorian-cinema.net/machines). 2007 Encyclopédie de la photographie du dix-neuvième siècle, Vol. I (New York : Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group LLC), p. 279. 2017 Herman Casler (URL : http://www.victorian-cinema.net/casler). 1998 Images vivantes : les origines des films par Deac Rossell (Albany, NY : State University of New York Press), pp. 94-95. 2008 L'homme qui a fait des films : WKL Dickson par Paul Spehr (Hertfordshire, Royaume-Uni : John Libbey Publishing Ltd.), pp. 290-293, 380. 2007 Roll ! Shooting TV News : Vues de derrière l'objectif (Burlington, MA : Focal Press/Elsevier), p. 7. 1897 Scientific American, vol. LXXVI (New York : Munn & Co.), p. 248.

 

 

 

 

THEATRICAL PATENTS
16,388. Herman Casler, 19, Holborn-viaduct, London. Web-feeding and handling mechanism for consecutive view apparatus, perforating machines, and the like. July 10th, 1897.The Era, London, Saturday 17 July 1897, p. 12.

recensement 1900: Lenox

recensement 1905: Lenox

recensement 1910: Canastota

recensement 1915: Lenox

recensement 1920: Canastota

recensement 1925: Canastota

recensement 1930: Canastota

Pioneer Inventor in Movies Dies
Canastota, N.Y., July 22 (AP)
Herman Casler, 72, who invented modern motion picture projector, died last night in hospital after a short illness.
Casler achieved fame when his invention received its first public showing in New York City, October 11, 1896.Calgary Herald, Calgary, samedi 22 juillet 1939, p. 5.

casler herman 1939 sepulture
Cimetière de Fort Plain

Sources

HENDRICKS Gordon, Beginnings of the Biograph, New York, The Beginnings of the American Film, 1964, 78 p.

"The Art of moving photography", Scientific American, vol. LXXVI, nº 16, 17 avril 1897, p. 241 et 248-250.

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