In this restoration video, I restore a beautiful kaleidoscope from the Victorian era (approx. 1860 - 1900).
More about the restoration:
When I saw this piece up for auction on a site similar to eBay, I knew from the start that it would be the subject of an exciting restoration video. I didn't think twice and bid on it, even though I wasn't sure it would ever work again or that I would find replacement parts. This Kaleidoscope is quite rare; I have not been able to find one like it anywhere, nor spare parts. The restoration process went well, with no problems, although I had to improvise quite a bit.
I had to find a solution for the missing eyepiece, so I used a brass piece for the water connection. I modified it slightly, and it looked like it was from there. I also had some difficulty buying a lens cutter, the delivery time was huge, over 30 days, so I decided to cut the missing lens manually. After several loads, I managed to cut the glass almost perfectly.
Then I had to wrap it in a new layer of leather, but I chose eco-leather.
I worked on this antique Kaleidoscope for two weeks with a lot of love and patience, and I'm thrilled with how it turned out, mainly since it works again too!
Please ask me if you have any questions about what I used and why! I answer everyone!
More about antique Kaleidoscope:
Few objects have played a more significant role in underscoring the combined power of light, color, and motion than the Kaleidoscope. It was invented in 1816, quite by accident, during experiments with the polarization and refraction of light by the Scottish physicist Sir David Brewster (1781-1868).
Sir David Brewster was studying many aspects of physical Sciences, including polarization optics and the properties of light. While looking at some objects at the end of 2 mirrors, He noticed patterns and colors were recreated and reformed into Beautiful new arrangements.
It's hard to imagine now, but in the years after the Kaleidoscope was first invented in 1816, it distracted the public as much as an iPhone. A person couldn't walk down a street in London without seeing people staring into these tubes and walking into walls immersed in the new invention.
Its presence was pervasive. Suppose a person didn't own a kaleidoscope. In that case, they could pay a "penny for a peek" from London's poor or homeless, who earned a living by offering passersby a look into the patterns produced by what some termed as one of the "most important inventions and discoveries of our time."
I have not been able to date precisely the Kaleidoscope I found, but judging by the way it was built, the age of the pieces, and the corrosion inside, I suspect it was made in the Victorian period. If you have more information or one just like it, please write to me! Also, remember to subscribe to take advantage of upcoming restoration projects!
Cheers, Johnny!
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00:00 Victorian Era Kaleidoscope Restoration
00:36 Dissasembling
03:30 Sandblasting
04:49 Soldering the damaged part
05:54 making new lens
06:57 sandblasting the brass parts
07:38 sanding an polishing brass elements
08:44 making a new eyecup
09:33 Repainting the mirrors
09:56 Leatherwork
11:19 Assembling the old kaleidoscope
12:53 testing the kaleidoscope view