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netsky
Member
since 2005-03-29
Posts 148
Miami

0 posted 2005-04-11 10:06 AM


  
The first mass-market kaleidoscope dates to the middle 1870's.

CG Bush (1825-1900),an untutored genius in the diverse areas of
optics, art and merchandising,  transformed a costly laboratory curiosity
to an affordable, $2 mass market wonder.    

The Bush Kaleidoscope is regarded today as the best and quintessential kaleidoscope.  

  
  


  

retrospective, 2005

Kaleidoscope by Bush, this first
of brass and walnut brown pasteboard
tube and case enclosing bits
and mirrors to refract the facts

In its window is genius view;
a show that art is not mere sum
but something more than of its parts;
this visual poetry Victoriana
when C.G. Bush designed by heart
and vended hues unto the masses


1875 sales pitch

Two dollars per copy!
Come have a view!
Colors and patterns phantasmagoric!
Polychromatic as the Hottentot pope
is our Mr. Bush's Kaleidoscope.
            

                                                            
The instrument inexpensively made from cardboard tubing, walnut base and brass and glass.  


The object case is rotated by the spokes of the brass bezel.  

The angle of the tube facilitates night time viewing by candle light.
        

The object case is contains bits of twisted and colored glass.

Liquid-filled ampules animate the scenery as
the air bubble within the ampule moves to find equilibrium.


  

                                       
The object case is rotated by the spokes of the brass bezel.      

Early kaleidoscopes were employed to design decorative arts such as carpet and fabric and wallpaper.  

The rococo figurations of the kaleidoscope were well suited to the fussy, complex decorative stylings of the Victorian age.


Snapshot of made by holding the camera lens hard to the eyepiece.  

In real life the colors are vivid and the fluid ampules add animation to the pattern.  
                                      

A web page about the pioneer instruments http://www.brewstersociety.com/2bs.html



© Copyright 2005 Reid Welch - All Rights Reserved
Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
1 posted 2005-04-11 10:32 AM


What a cool colorful write! thanks for the photos, the history lesson and links, Reid.
I love kaleidescopes!  

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

2 posted 2005-04-11 10:35 AM


nicely done, thanks for sharing.
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
3 posted 2005-04-11 11:38 AM


netsky
Enjoyed the read.

Martie
Moderator
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
4 posted 2005-04-11 12:22 PM


netsky

Very interesting...enjoyed!

netsky
Member
since 2005-03-29
Posts 148
Miami
5 posted 2005-04-11 01:30 PM


thanks to early and later-on commentors

it's unusual for me to make a poem about a -thing-

impetous came after writing a personal verse of whimsy for an internet poet screen named "kaleidazccope".   I'll post that some day soon while this poem is in memory.

hey- here is about a neat sort of kaleidoscope.  In the other poem.. I put -myself- into -her- kaleidoscope.   ha ha, yes, I did.

thanks for reading.  -crits of the poem are most welcome and helpful-.  Feel free to point out any problems you see.  Your opinions count with me.

cheers,
reid

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
6 posted 2005-04-11 01:55 PM


Well you just brought many a pleasant memory back to me when I used to "kaleidoscope gaze"!

I had a phenomenal passion for them and had acquired quite an impressive collection of them ~ the lower end models of course. ~ I was only a cherub back in those days! lol

Thanks for the history, info, links, and photos!

May you have a kaleidoscope of colourful dreams that all come true for you!


EA

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
7 posted 2005-04-11 02:12 PM


brought back some memories

it's nice to know the history here
thanks

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