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The Homograph

The Homograph

The Homograph is manufactured by the James Coghlan Company of Union Square, NY. It uses 35 mm and sold for only $5.
The Vitak

The Vitak

The Vitak was sold through the William Wardell’s mail order catalog. Likely the first toy projector made in the United States. Sold for $2.
Kinora Viewer

Kinora Viewer

The Kinora was a hand cranked tabletop viewer sold to the home market. Instead of film, it flipped through a spool of photographic cards, much like a flipbook or a mutoscope. Originally invented by the Lumiere brothers in 1895, they sold their patent to Gaumont, who...
The Birtac

The Birtac

A 17.5mm portable camera and projector in one intended for amateurs. Developed by Birt Acres.
The Bazar de la Charité Cinematograph Disaster

The Bazar de la Charité Cinematograph Disaster

At a Parisian charity event, a projectionist’s equipment catches fire, killing 126 attendees of mostly aristocratic women. The news of the event spreads worldwide, telling the dangers of using motion picture equipment. Events like these stall larger...