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History of Science Museum

Zoetrope, London, c. 1867?

Inventory Number 80585


Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.80585

Item type
Object
Provenance
Purchased from Dr. Reginald S. Clay.
Primary inscriptions
Label around central spindle: “Wheel of Life” “London...”
Other inscriptions
Titles on each individual strip: “1. The black turnover” “2. The gymnast” “3. The wild Irishman” “4. A large feeder” "5. I chews” “6. Baseball” “7. The little umbrella man” “11. Fish & fowl” “12. Nobody’s little game” “13. The cure” “14. Leap frog” “15. Steeple chase” “Entered at Stationers’ Hall” “17. Who’s that knockin’ at the door?” “Entered at Stationers’ Hall” “18. Headwork” “Entered at Stationers’ Hall”
Physical material
Mahogany
Tin Plate
Paper
Dimensions
Diameter: 302mm Height: 350mm
Inventory No
80585
Accession Number
1944-1/part

Description

A zoetrope consisting of a hollow metallic cylinder with 13 equally-spaced slits located on the upper edge. The cylinder revolves on a mahogany pivot. Inside the cylinder is placed a strip of paper featuring a sequence of 13 pictures. Rotating the cylinder and observing the images through the slits reveals an animated sequence.