University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

Amet Magniscope

Permalink

https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/d2ee5760-0d92-0135-23f6-0050569601ca-3
Copyright Not Evaluated (RightsStatements.org)

Copyright Not Evaluated

Descriptive Information

Title
Amet Magniscope
Description
Thirty-five millimeter film projector made of tin, galvanized metal and brass. It has two film reels and sits on a wood base.
Interpretation
The Amet Magniscope, "The perfect projecting machine," was one of the earliest motion picture projectors manufactured. It was designed and manufactured between 1896 and 1897 by E. H. Amet of Waukegan, Illinois, an Illinois native and pioneer in the motion picture industry. It should be noted, however, that Louis and Auguste Lumiere, produced the very first reasonable demonstration of a projected moving image. On December 28, 1895 in Paris, the Lumiere brothers showed a film of a train entering a station, a rowing boat leaving a harbor, and workers leaving a factory, to a disbelieving crowd. The cinema as we know it today was born that night. E.H. Amet was the first inventor to put sprockets into his film. Thus the film would advance in his projector. The operating side had a calcium light. This device projects moving images onto a screen. This early movie projector ran with a modified crank. Burning gas was used as the light source but it created a fire risk. Originally marketed for $259, but because of its awkward design and possible fire hazard the price fell to $100, and the inventor resorted to selling the accompanying films to make a profit. Only seven Magniscopes are known to exist. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has two models in its collection.
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • American Communities in History  
  • How We Learn About Communities  
Learning Standards
  • 13 Science, Technology and Society  
  • 10-12 Science  
  • 16 History  
Author or Creator
Amet, Edward H. (Edward Hill), 1860-1948  
Source
  • Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Accession File #31.67  
  • De Bono, Edward. Eureka! An Illustrated History of Inventions from the Wheel to the Computer. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1974  
Subject / Keywords
  • Cinema  
  • Cinematography  
  • Inventions  
  • Motion picture projectors  
  • Movie projectors  
  • Film projectors  
  • Waukegan (Ill.)  
Temporal Coverage
1896/1897
Collection Publisher
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Rights
Copyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier
31.67
Date Created
37487
Collection Title
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
Collection
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
TitleAmet Magniscope
DescriptionThirty-five millimeter film projector made of tin, galvanized metal and brass. It has two film reels and sits on a wood base.
InterpretationThe Amet Magniscope, "The perfect projecting machine," was one of the earliest motion picture projectors manufactured. It was designed and manufactured between 1896 and 1897 by E. H. Amet of Waukegan, Illinois, an Illinois native and pioneer in the motion picture industry. It should be noted, however, that Louis and Auguste Lumiere, produced the very first reasonable demonstration of a projected moving image. On December 28, 1895 in Paris, the Lumiere brothers showed a film of a train entering a station, a rowing boat leaving a harbor, and workers leaving a factory, to a disbelieving crowd. The cinema as we know it today was born that night. E.H. Amet was the first inventor to put sprockets into his film. Thus the film would advance in his projector. The operating side had a calcium light. This device projects moving images onto a screen. This early movie projector ran with a modified crank. Burning gas was used as the light source but it created a fire risk. Originally marketed for $259, but because of its awkward design and possible fire hazard the price fell to $100, and the inventor resorted to selling the accompanying films to make a profit. Only seven Magniscopes are known to exist. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has two models in its collection.
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • American Communities in History  
  • How We Learn About Communities  
Learning Standards
  • 13 Science, Technology and Society  
  • 10-12 Science  
  • 16 History  
Author or CreatorAmet, Edward H. (Edward Hill), 1860-1948  
Source
  • Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Accession File #31.67  
  • De Bono, Edward. Eureka! An Illustrated History of Inventions from the Wheel to the Computer. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1974  
Subject / Keywords
  • Cinema  
  • Cinematography  
  • Inventions  
  • Motion picture projectors  
  • Movie projectors  
  • Film projectors  
  • Waukegan (Ill.)  
Temporal Coverage1896/1897
Collection PublisherMuseum of Science and Industry, Chicago
RightsCopyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier31.67
Date Created37487
Collection TitleTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
CollectionTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)

Download Options

Amet Magniscope
Original File (TIFF) Custom Image…