Stereoscopic camera, 1856.

A stereoscopic camera made by J B Dancer of Manchester. Dancer was also known for his thermometers, clocks, microscopes and microphotographs. The camera has several features which were novel at the time. Stereophotographs were made in those days by placing two cameras side by side or by taking two separate exposures using one camera which was moved through a small arc between the two exposures. One of the latter type, Dancer's stereoscopic camera is a very early binocular camera, posibly the earliest in existence.