1860's Tabletop Mechanical Becker Type "sweetheart" Stereoscope Stereoviewer For Sale

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This beautiful, turn of the 20th century, Tabletop Viewer measures approx. 10" by 11 1/2" at the base and 14 1/2" tall. It is made entirely of close grained Mahogany with stereo eyepieces on opposite sides (four eyepieces in all) that can be focused by drawing them out from the body of the Viewer on mounts that look almost like a drawer. This Tabletop Viewer can hold 50 square corner, flat card mount Stereoviews back to back in 25 mounts on a revolving, internal mechanism that is operated using wooden knobs on the opposing sides of the body of the vVewer (the knobs are on the sides that do not have eyepieces).

The Viewer carries no makers mark or label but is of the type known to collectors as a "Becker Style" Sweetheart Stereoscope. The interior of this type of viewer holds a number of stereo cards in mounts on a belt. When the knob on the side is turned the cards come into view one at a time. The example offered here is two sided with a set of lenses on both sides to allow two people to view back to back cards at the same time. The Viewer offered here includes all 25 of the original internal card holders however 10 of those holders have become dislodged from the belt and the belt is worn and frayed. This internal mechanism needs to be restored with new cloth belts but otherwise all internal parts are present.

This rare and wonderful, Tabletop Mechanical Becker Style Sweetheart Stereoviewer / Stereoscope / Stereopticon is in very good condition. The Viewer is complete and all interior and exterior parts are present. As stated above, all parts of the revolving mechanism which holds the Card Mount Stereoviews are present but the mechanism needs to be restored in order for it to work properly (see above description). The viewer retains what appears to be its original surface finish and has never been refinished, repaired, restored, or altered in any way. There is a horizontal crack in one of the side panels of the body of the Viewer (above the revolving knob) and one of the four wooden eyepieces also has a crack. Both of the doors at the top are present and retain their original reflective paper attachments. We can honestly say that this viewer is as “original” as any we have come across.

A very rare and very beautiful, 1860's Mahogany Table Top Mechanical "Becker Style" "Sweetheart" type Stereoviewer / Stereoscope and a fantastic addition to any Collection!!

Be sure to check out this seller’s other sales for other 19th and early 20th century Stereoscopes / Stereoviewers and Views which are also being offered for sale this week on !!

Be sure to check out this seller’s other sales for a number of 19th and early 20th century Stereoscopes / Stereoviewers and Views which are also being offered for sale this week on !!

Overseasshippping is extra and cost will be quoted at buyers request. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.

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Important Notes about Shipping Charges:

The amount quoted for Shipping & Handling is calculated by and is equal to the EXACT amount charged by the Post Office plus a $1.00 "packing fee" - the $1.00 fee is our only compensation for the virgin packing materials we use on all of our professionally packaged boxes as well as our cost for the salaried help that does most of our packing - as I am sure you can see, we make NO profit on the Shipping charges and, in fact, our costs are usually greater than the $1.00 fee. Please contact us if there are any issues regarding the cost of shipping.

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This item has been shown 481 times. 1860's Tabletop Mechanical Becker Type "sweetheart" Stereoscope Stereoviewer: $338