Expert: Larry Bieza - 9/27/2008

Question
How were the photographs attached to the wheel? I have been building Mutoscopes for sometime now and this is a question that has always bothered me. I am currently building more but would like to use a similar method that was originally employed.  I am a working artist and these pieces that are built are not toys they are meant to be exhibited in a different context. Thank you for your time.
Cheers
Dave

Answer
Hi Dave, I am currently writing a book on the history of Mutoscopes, so I am well versed on this subject.  To answer your part:  After the photos are completed they had a small hole punched at the bottom of each card, and were set in order and kept together with a piece of string through the holes.  Then a stiff piece of paper was set between each photo, but cut about 1/16 inch shorter than the photos so when the "thumb" slid across the edges it would flip on the pics and not the spacer cards.  These cards also gave the photos extra snap force forward.  This whole book of cards was then set into a clamp and the bottom edge was glued and webbed with gauze to hold the cards in a sequence. Once dry the entire set of cards was set in a circle and the metal hubs were placed on both sides and screwed together to make sure everything was clamped securely and held straight.  The pics, and filler paper originally had a "V" cut low on both sides and the side metal hubs had the point on the side that matched the cutout on the photo reel, which pulled it all together.  Then the reel was wrapped tightly with a belt, which bent the cards in a forward compression and then steamed for a while, then dried to give the entire reel a forward bend, which would then snap quickly forward, moving each pic quickly out of the frame.  Hope this helps.  Larry  www.coinoplibrary.com