Vitascope

OBJECT TYPE: Projector
MANUFACTURER: Armat, Thomas
INVENTOR: Jenkins, C.F.
NATIONALITY: American
PLACE MANUFACTURED: United States
OBJECT NAME VARIATIONS:
  Phantascope
  Edison Vitascope
INTRODUCTION DATE: Oct. 1895
PRODUCTION DATES: 1895-
PATENT DATE: May 28, 1895 (filed)
IMAGE SIZE: 18 x 24 mm
APPROXIMATE MANUFACTURED QUANTITY: 75
FUNCTIONAL TYPE: film, silent

NOTES:
  Early projection appartatus designed by Armat and Jenkins. First
  demonstrated in September 1895 at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition as
  the Phantoscope. Shortly after the Exposition, a disagreement between
  Jenkins & Armat occurs; partnership dissolves. Armat shows the
  Phantoscope to Raff & Gammon, distributors of Edison's Kinetoscope.
  Edison agrees to manufacture the machines; Edison's version is called
  the Vitascope. The Vitascope's first public demonstration is April 23,
  1896 at Koster and Bial's Music Hall in New York City. Meanwhile,
  Jenkins negotiates to have machines made by the Columbia Phonograph
  Company. At least one of these machines is known to exist. Edison
  produced an estimated 71 machines; they are considered to be obsolete
  by 1896.
  The Phantoscope/Vitascope uses a beater intermittent consisting of a
  of a bar attached to a circular cam. As the cam rotates, the bar comes
  into contact with the film, moving it to the next frame. No shutter is
  used in the mechanism.
  Dimensions: 32.5cm H X 28.8cm W X 16.3cm L

MATERIAL VIEWED/PROJECTED: film

OBJECT IDENTIFIER: A7273.00001

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: Coe, Brian. --The History of Movie Photography.-- Eastview Editions, 1981. 66-68.//