Mini-Mutoscope: "Newspaper Acting-Picture Machine"

Very rare "Flicker" machine made of tin by World Syndicate Co., Inc., New York. U.S. patent: Sept. 9, 1919. – Round tin drum with 42 "plates" in which you can insert progressive images. This one has a Jack in the box appearing to a Jester who then hits it with a batton. After inserting all, "...turn the handle from you and the characters will move as natural as life."

The animated drawings were published frequently in American newspapers and had to be cut out and gathered in this little machine (5 in. high) until a moving scene was complete. With 42 pictures in this set. – An extraordinarily rare collector's item

Provenance: London Private Collection