Clam shell Mutoscope Nickelodeon Arcade Machine Circa 1890's Restored

Description

International Cinema Equipment
A Division of
Magna-Tech Electronic Co. Inc.
Providing quality products and services to the Cinema Industry since 1956!
ICE-MTE is pleased to present for your pleasure another:
Excellent Condition
Fully Operational
Includes!
Limited WARRANTY!
American Mutoscope & Biograph
Company
Coin Operated
Clam Shell Mutoscope
(Circa 1895-1910
Includes program content
This is an all original unit made at the factory in
Brooklyn
New York.
This is the real deal!
Customized Paint Schemes are available!
The Mutoscope, a precursor of the motion picture, utilizes a reel of cards that rotates rapidly, by hand cranking thus creating a moving image. The individual cards were contact printed from 70 mm film.
Although by the late l880*s motion pictures were widely in use, the projector had not yet been invented, and Edison's Kinetoscope, a film-viewing box, was used in penny arcades. The first Mutoscope was produced in 1895 and soon replaced the earlier machine since the cards of stills were larger than the film frames and they did not deteriorate with use. By I897, the Mutoscope dominated the arcade parlors; These early machines and reels are sgreatly sought after as antiques of the early days of Cinema.
The original Mutoscope patent was issued in I895 to Herman Casler of Oneonta, New York, and the prototype was built in the D.C, Lipe Machine Shop in Syracuse, where he worked. Sometime later,W.K.L.Dickson,an associate of Edison,stated that the original idea was his. The two men and two other partners formed a syndicate that later became the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. Although the card-flipping principle was not new (thumb books had been in use for years), the circular card reel was an innovation. The viewing time of one rotation (8OO to 85O cards) was about one minute, the same as that of the average thirty-foot film produced by then existing cameras.
The Biograph Company developed its own camera, the "Mutograph'j and later a projector, the "Biograph." With this projector, the commercial motion-picture theater became a reality, and the Mutoscope fell into disregard, though it continued its life in the arcades.
Between 1897 and I907, the classic age of the Mutoscope, over l,000 titles and 100,000 reels were printed and distributed, and perhaps 5OO of these are still in existence. The actors and actresses -- hundreds of personalities from the stage -- appeared anonymously. Some reels were made in series like "Happy Hooligan," "Rip Van Winkle" and "Foxy Grandpa," others were broad morality plays and comedies, and
still others were scenic views like "Niagara Falls/' "Atlantic City Boardwalk" and "Paris from the Seine," in which the camera shot generally remained rigidly fixed. After projected films began to be produced^ newsreels, sporting events and Hollywood films were cut to fit the Mutoscope's one minute viewing time. Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Tom Mix and other name actors appeared in fragmentary episodes, but the Mutoscope is above all famous for the "Girlies" dance and strip-tease subjects.
It was especially a good, durable vehicle for the motion picture under one minute.
These are hard to find with support and  warranty.
PHOTOS ARE TYPICAL OF ITEMS BEING OFFERED AND ARE SAMPLES FOR COLOR.
PRIOR TO SHIPMENT WE WILL SEND A PHOTO OF YOUR ACTUAL UNIT FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
Don't miss this wonderful o
pportunity!
We offer our limited
warranty for 90 Days Parts and labor
if returned to us post prepaid.!
Plus over 40 Years in the Projection Equipment and Manufacturing business!
We can
arrange
for packing, shipping and delivery to most places around the world at additional cost.
Get a quote from us prior to buying just to be sure;Pickup is allowed at our facilities there is no charge for this. Sales Tax may be applicable check with us.
ICECO/MTE
We accept Paypal, and all Major Credit Cards.
International and Export orders are welcomed anywhere in the world.
ICE-MTE suppliers of quality cinema equipment since 1975.
International Cinema Equipment
A Division of
Magna-Tech Electronic Company Inc.