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This is a quality made brass and mahogany magic lantern projector by the prestigious makers Perken, Son & Rayment, Hatton Garden, London and will look fantastic as a functioning showpiece. Instruments that were made in this part of London were top quality. This model would have been at the high end of their range, with bigger lenses than some of their standard models. The majority of these lanterns were made in tinplate and brass – only the more expensive ones designed to impress were adorned with a mahogany shell. This one was made around 1887 and has been constructed with a no-expense-spared approach. The main part of the brass lens mount is telescopic and is stamped with their trademark "Optimus". There are also doors with coloured glass portholes on both sides and brass carry handles, which is also a quality feature. The projected image quality is sharp all the way to the edges.

The lantern has its original French polish. The wood has some minor age related marks, but is in good condition. All the black parts have been sand-blasted and re-sprayed satin black and all the brass has been polished. All the lenses have been cleaned and the rack-and-pinion mechanism in the telescopic body has been serviced and lubricated. Everything has been taken apart and carefully cleaned. The lantern has been converted to electricity at some point in time – this is beneficial as the original limelight systems were a bit dangerous, fiddly to get right, ran hot and were not as bright as a modern electric LED bulb. The wiring, switch and plug have been replaced and it has a new LED bulb fitted which runs really bright and cool. The focus lenses that focus the image are in good condition. The large condenser twin lens (this collects and focuses the light through the slide) is overall good condition with only minor scratches.

The length of the lantern is 19 inches long x 10 inches wide x 16.5 inches tall with the chimney fitted.

The last image shows the projected image of one of the slides included onto a three-foot square screen at close range; the picture goes much larger that this when the projector is placed further away. Coloured slides on all subjects are plentiful on online marketplaces.

The slide carrier caters for the standard 3¼" slides and is the prestigious "Eclipse" version manufactured by R.R. Beard, of Fort Road, Bermondsey, England and patented in 1886. By the 1880s, glass lantern slides in the standard 3¼ x 3¼ inch format had to be placed in a slide holder to enable the projectionist to move them in and out of the projector. This style of slide carrier has a device that automatically centred the slide, thus making the projectionist's work much easier. With early slide changers, the projectionist had to lean over the lantern to remove used slides from the carrier. This model returned the used slides to the projectionist' side, where they could easily be removed. The innovative 'Eclipse' design slide changer enabled each slide to be pushed in front of the previous one before the latter was removed. This produced a 'dissolving' effect with just one lantern. It's a remarkable piece of Victorian technology.

The maker of this lantern professed establishment in 1852 under the name of Lejeune & Perken, becoming Perken, Son & Rayment in 1887. Arthur Rayment left the firm in 1899 and from 1900 the firm operated under the name of Perken, Son & Co. The Optimus trade name was initially registered in 1885 by Lejeune & Perken and was continued under Perken, Son & Rayment. The Optimus name was used to sell a vast range of photographic material, as well as lanterns such as this.

This is fully functioning and ready to go - all you need is a light coloured plain wall (or a projector screen) and the room curtains drawn.

 

This is now for sale. Please go to the 'Items For Sale' menu for the link to my Etsy shop.

Many thanks for looking!