The Magic Lantern

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:18 pm

These were for kids in the old days, there were glass slides with pictures on them that slide across a slot behind the magnifier tube.
The lantern inside gave enough light to project the image on the wall about three feet away.
I bought two originals on ebay that aren't here yet but you know me had to try and make one, I`ll` update as this when I can shoot a vid and the others arrive.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:50 pm

Wow, that's good work buddy. Be waiting to see the video. I've never seen one work.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:55 pm

Thanks buddy, the black tube has a magnifying glass in the end and slides in and out to focus the image.
They were pretty crude from the get go.

I don`t have any slides yet but anything clear with a image will work to try it.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:58 pm

Perfect timing Lenn. I was just thinking to myself that I could sure use a neat-and-one-half Pitchy project thread to lift my spirits.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 2:05 pm

Thanks Bill and prayers up for ya, heck of a world some times huh.
I`m still a pain in the butt myself and getting sick of it.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 2:42 pm

Appreciate it Lenn. Seeing you working with shaped sheet metal again makes me homesick for your steam engines and ships.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 2:45 pm

Yea looks the boats are in dry dock for a extended time.
Chasing another chuck just now but couldn`t get a shot at the bugger.

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:59 pm

You need some 2 1/4 inch slides Lenn. I guess 35mm slides would work too.

I noticed a slick chuck hole under my shop, down beside the basement part. Maybe I'll set a trap for him. I need that new big one you built.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 4:03 pm

M. M. Wright wrote: ↑Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:59 pm You need some 2 1/4 inch slides Lenn. I guess 35mm slides would work too.

I noticed a slick chuck hole under my shop, down beside the basement part. Maybe I'll set a trap for him. I need that new big one you built.

This model take 1 1/2 inch by 6 slides, have some coming soon.
I`ve shot five of those chucks all that were under the porch but got one hide out under the wood pile.
I`d set a trap but there are a couple fox that frequent the yard and I don`t want to get them, he`ll mess up one of these days and fall under my sights.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 6:54 pm

Works good but image is small most likely because it only has one lens.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy4Vv-Kk8Qk

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 8:46 pm

That's neat bud. Never saw one work before. Thanks for the video.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:18 am

I see why they called it a "magic" lantern. Charming!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:42 am

The early ones used a candle then a oil lamp then a light bulb which improved them a lot.
Here`s it working with a flash light.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 7:04 pm

Abraham Lincoln... Standing... On his head!

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Jun 13, 2018 5:48 am

My step-grandfather had one of those that had been wired to take a 60W lightbulb. considering what it was it did a really good job. He had a whole box full of old glass slides. Pictures of far away places.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Jun 13, 2018 7:00 am

Thanks Rusty, may have a factory made one coming today if not tomorrow.
I also have some of the same that are 35mm projectors.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Jun 13, 2018 1:49 pm

Got the first original magic latern today, video didn`t turn out very good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkAcyJWWqMQ

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Jun 13, 2018 3:54 pm

Wow thats really nice buddy! Looks to be in real good shape.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 12:04 pm

Thanks Jay, got a couple more today but don`t have any film for the projector yet but will be trying the magic lantern after while.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:19 pm

Those are neat. I like old stuff like that. Connects us to simpler times. What I like about old guns.
You got some neat stuff, Lenn.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:03 pm

Thanks Jay, here`s the magic lantern in action.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:25 pm

Interesting to see these magic lanterns Lenn but do you think these "picture shows" will ever catch on ?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:01 pm

gamekeeper wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:25 pm Interesting to see these magic lanterns Lenn but do you think these "picture shows" will ever catch on ?

Only to people like me.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:13 pm

Pitchy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:01 pm
gamekeeper wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:25 pm Interesting to see these magic lanterns Lenn but do you think these "picture shows" will ever catch on ?
Only to people like me.

Well that's a good enough answer....

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:30 pm

Cool buddy!
These new fangled inventions......I declare!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:53 pm

gamekeeper wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:13 pm
Pitchy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:01 pm
gamekeeper wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:25 pm Interesting to see these magic lanterns Lenn but do you think these "picture shows" will ever catch on ?
Only to people like me.
Well that's a good enough answer....

I didn`t know how else to answer but after thought slide projectors are used to this day.

Thanks Jay, the projector is what I`m waiting to try, should have some film in a few days.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:35 pm

This magic lantern projector is twice the size of the last one, had to make a reel for on top and support .
We made a continuous loop of film which is they were made to use but some had a lower reel that the film could wind onto.
The picture is hard to see in the video but ya get the idea.

Video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwaPn77wcKU

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 2:17 pm

A little better vide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frvi1ZRPzIU

Hawkeye2 · Post by **Hawkeye2** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:10 pm

Pitchy, so when does a Magic Lantern become a movie projector?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:15 pm

Hawkeye2 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:10 pm Pitchy, so when does a Magic Lantern become a movie projector?

The first ones I posted are magic lanterns and only used slides, the last two models use 35 mm film and are projectors but I guess they both project a picture.
These are the beginning of it all fellars, ya wouldn`t be watching TV or anything else if not for these inventers.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:09 pm

That's really cool, buddy. I'm glad that stuff finds it way to you where it will be well cared for and appreciated.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 9:02 am

Loved the "movie" Lenn!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 17, 2018 10:43 am

Thanks Jay and Bill, I have a couple vintage 8mm projectors coming next week and some black and white silent westerns.
Hopalong and others.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 17, 2018 4:17 pm

I converted it to a two reel system today, they came this way also but I imagine the arms and reels got lost as they are removable for storage.
Makes it a better projector as ya don`t have the loop of film hanging everywhere.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqrROUv0C14

Post by **AmBraCol** » Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:16 am

Back in college a couple of ladies contacted the administration office to see if any of the students might be interested in picking up some money to help pack up a home. It turned out that they were the daughters of a deceased minister and their mother had been placed in a home and they were packing up the old family place as they lived in another state. They were, of course, packing up mostly the things they considered valuable and told us that if we wanted anything they left we could have it. That's how I got my hands on an old metal tackle box and a Utica Sportsman knife which is still with me to this day. But one thing they had as a Magic Lantern type projector - but the coolest part of it was the large collection of colored glass slides - of Bible stories. I had my eye on that but they decided it might be worth money so into the moving van it went. I always wondered what became of that old collection.

Thanks for sharing this with us. Times were simpler back then and it's good to be reminded of them.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:24 am

Good work, buddy. That's neat.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:06 am

Thanks guys, I imagine it was quite the big deal in its day.
It must of been something when the first moving movies came out as with the first radio, pretty boring running these things for us in our day and age.
I`m looking forward to playing with the 1950`s projectors that are coming , I`ll try and video a western and post I think a couple of them are only two minute.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Mon Jun 18, 2018 1:45 pm

Thanks buddy. I like the old, simpler things best. They usually work at their intended purpose better.
If I go sit in my gunroom to watch a movie on Netflix, Hulu or TV, by the time its all connected, and I find something worth watching........its time to go to bed.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:11 pm

Got the Revere projector today, it`s a beauty.
I think they were made in the 50`s but will have to verify that, here`s a short video as the whole movie is 15 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3j6dWGL-x8

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 10:37 pm

Wow, that's really neat! Must have been fun making those old movies. Thats always what I think when I see those.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:32 pm

Thanks Jay, got the Keystone K100 and a nice Montgomery Wards Hollywood projector today.
I don`t care for the Keystone.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:37 pm

Wow. Now ole Pitchy's goin Hollywood! You gonna make some biker movies and some westerns, buddy?
Bout time we get some good movies to watch.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 6:12 am

Had to try it once, out door drive-in.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:41 am

Nice! That is a great picture, Lenn. Just something about it.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 8:04 am

Thanks buddy, was fun.