Skip to content
Enfield Shaker Museum logo Enfield Shaker Museum historic building banner

Object Record


1999.18.1 Nelson Chase's patented folding stereoscope
Japanning, pinstriping, and transfer decal on the tin eye shields
Caption on the wooden fold up brow shield
View of bottom with handles folded up
The stereoscope folded
Bottom of the folded stereoscope. Polished nickel silver hardware
Catalog Number 1999.18.1
Object Name Stereoscope
Description Chase's Folding Stereoscope. Patented by Enfield Shaker Nelson Chase, US Patent#129,100 on July 16, 1872. The stereoscope folds for easy storage or transportation. Opened it is a full size Holmes/Bates style stereoscope. The tin eyeshields are japanned, pinstriped, and have transfer decals. The wooden brow shield is stencilled "Chase's / Folding Stereoscope / Improved / Patented July 16, 1872" The lenses are glass, and the divider between the lenses is tinned and japanned. The base, hinged lens holder, and extension arm are tropical hardwood. The base of the card holder is tropical hardwood laminated to a lighter hardwood. The handles, hinges card holders, and the pivot mechanism appear to be highly polished nickel silver.
Credit line Gift of Robert H. Leavitt
Date ca 1870's
Dimensions H-2.25 W-5.75 L-7.25 inches
Dimension Details Measurements are of the object folded. Length is the folded main beam from the hinge to the tip. Width is the nickel silver handles tip to tip. Height is the object laying on a table to the top of the folded eyeshields.
Material Hardwood/Steel/Paint/Nickel silver/Glass
Place made Enfield, NH Shaker Village
Lexicon category 6: T&E For Communication
Lexicon sub-category Visual Communication T&E
Linked documents Watch a video about the about Nelson Chase's Patented Stereoscope on the museum's Youtube channel.

Read the US patent for Chases Folding Stereoscope Patent #129,100 dated July 16, 1872.

Read Nelson Chase's biography on the museum's website.
Role Artist Architect