Invented by W.K.L. Dickson and Herman Casler in 1894, the Mutoscope was one of the earliest forms of motion picture technology. While at heart a hand cranked giant flicker book, the makers where smart enough to offer an incredibly wide choice of genres.

Though the most popular form attracted the kind of comments we see today about Poser/Studio art...

_.."scenes to tempt the depravity of manhood and the curiosity of youth" (The San Francisco Call, April 1899) _ ...which lead to these machines becoming known as "What the Butler saw" machines.

In today’s 4K UHD world such technology seems to be redundant, which is a real shame as these machines have a wonderful Victorian/SteamPunk feel. That made me wonder what if you could make a digital version, a machine that converged 3D art with Victorian technology. Obviously with 3D modelling that’s easy enough, but also what about a fully working real world version. So I made both :)

Unlike the original metal versions, my Mutoscope is constructed of wood (mostly recycled so nice and green) using a variety of techniques from routing to hand carving.

Contained within is a museum grade Media Player with 7in screen, where viewers select a video with a button or remote control. There’s also an IR sensor inside so the machine can auto-play if someone walks past it.

Sound is full stereo audio, via headphones or speakers. The player can also play MP3's without video, meaning this can also be used as a giant, and rather decorative, speaker.

As the playlist/button controls are already coded with special software, updating videos is as simple as copying MPG's onto a compact flash card. Or it can be updated via USB or FTP on a wired network.

Plus the machine has been designed with a pull out frame so that the player can quickly and easily be replaced with something like a bluetooth controllable android tablet or IPad.

To protect the player screen clear acrylic sheet is used, but if you replaced that with a 10in Lenticular magnifying lens (commonly sold in pound stores as an aid to enlarge mobile-phone screens) in conjunction with a Windows based tablet, then you could even run Poser or Studio on it.

Theres more information about the 3d version here... https://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/?thread_id=2918603 ...with download links to the Poser & Daz Studio versions, around 3mb each.

..and heres the real one..

You are very creative and handy!

Blimey! That's flippin' outstanding, mate.

For your next trick... a full size, Steampunk Dalek. ;)

Amazing job. I never knew they weer called mutoscopes [educated!]

Reminds me of the episode of Steptoe & Son.

During the early 70s (maybe 72 or 73) I visited Disney World in Orlando with my father. Located upon "Main Street USA" was a recreation of a "turn of the century" "penny arcade" and housed within it were several seemingly authentic mutoscopes. They were recreations, of course, but I believe they functioned like the genuine mechanisms. They left a lasting impression upon me.

I'll definitely grab this puppy when I return home this evening!

Sincerely,

Bill

Sam, you mean something like this? :)

bobbypants posted at 5:52PM Fri, 03 November 2017 - #4317281

Amazing job. I never knew they weer called mutoscopes [educated!]

Reminds me of the episode of Steptoe & Son.

The episode is 'Porn Yesterday' and can be found on YouTube. Possibly the most appropriate use of 'You dirty old man'

I remember seeing one as a child, but I don't recall where. It was essentially an endless flip-book...

Thanks for the kind words everyone and glad you've enjoyed it. Yep, like everyone else who's seen them I recall seeing them at the seaside often at the end of piers.

My latest 3d/wood crossover isn't a dalek but it is retro :)

Plus as it's reasonably small, it's something any one could make. Though I can't show anyone yet as it's been created for a show which raises money for a community arts programme. Obviously I don't want to spoil the surprise for anyone there, but once it's in the wild, there'll be a tutorial here.
All I will say it uses some software that dates back to the days of 3dcommune :)

As for what to make if I ever had the chance, the time and the cash :), it would have to be a lifesized SHADO mobile. Yep the one from Gerry Anderson's UFO. Though it would have to be based on the Dinky Toy, with a working missile launcher and the incorrect green paint job ;) With that it could even be possible to use a 3D model as the source material, because Anthony Appleyard once released a poser version.

raven posted at 8:40PM Fri, 10 November 2017 - #4317295

Sam, you mean something like this? :)

Aye, that's the lad. It's a cracking build, is that.

I've seen it a few times at my local Sci-Fi convention. There's a nice steampunk R2D2 as well.