Historical information
The Kromskop (pronounced Chromescope) is one of the earliest commercial applications of colour photography, and was invented by Frederic Eugene Ives and announced around 1896, it is described in his English patent of 1895 and in a US patent of 1894. It was shown at a Camera Club in Britain in January 1896 and at the February Royal Photographic Society meeting, and was available for sale from early 1897.
The Photochromoscope Syndicate was formed in 1896 or 97 to promote the viewer in Britain, and wound up in 1899. It was manufactured in south London.
Physical description
A monocular instrument used to reproduce colours, in a mahogany box
The viewer combines stereo images from three-colour separation transparencies called Kromograms, these are viewed through red, green and blue filters. A Kromogram comprises three monochrome transparencies printed from three-colour separation negatives which are taped together. The order being red image, blue image, green image with a label and caption between the red and blue images. The red image lies horizontally on the top step of the viewer above a red filter, the blue image lies on the lower step above a blue filter, the green image stands vertically at the back of the viewer. The red and blue images are reflected into the eyepieces by transparent mirrors, these are coloured to absorb the light that they reflect to prevent a double image from the rear surface of the mirror, the mirror for the red image is coloured cyan/blue, that used for the blue filter is coloured green (the patent indicates a yellow filter). The green image is illuminated by a yellow reflector. As the mirror below the blue image is green there is no need for a green filter immediately in front of the green image. The viewer can be used in daylight, for some conditions a diffuser is used, this is hinged to the yellow reflector and laid across the steps. An artificial light was also available. The mirrors and image positions can be adjusted in the event that they become misaligned. (http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_V80.html, accessed 08 April 2022)
The Junior Kromskop was a mono viewer Kromskop.
