A NOVEL APPLICATION OF STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS TO MATCH BOXES AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Hippolyte Fontaine at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
September 1870.
I, HIPPOLYTE FONTAINE, of Marseilles, in the Department of the
Bouches du Rhône, in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NOVEL APPLICATION OF STEREOSCOPIC
VIEWS TO MATCH BOXES AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the application of stereoscopic views or
pictures to boxes or cases for holding matches and other objects in such
wise that they may be used as stereoscopic slides.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing forming part of this my
Provisional Specification, Figure 1 is an isometrical view of a match box
embodying my Invention, the drawer partly open; Figure 2, box spread
out to form a stereoscopic slide.
A (Figs. 1 and 2) surfaces of the box occupied by the stereoscopic
views; B, (Fig. 2) strip or band reserved between the surfaces A.

page_text: necessary to fix the depth of the box, and the breadth of which is so
combined as to in no wise interfere with the proper relief of the surfaces
A when viewed through the stereoscope; C (Fig. 2) strip equal in size
to that B, and covered with sand on which to strike the match; D
(Figs. 1 and 2) strip or flap of equal dimensions with those B and C,
and covering the sanded strip C when the box is formed. This flap may
be dispensed with and one of the sides of the drawer be sanded. E
(Figs. 1 and 2) surface reserved for inscribing the name of the town or
object to which the subject represented by the stereoscopic view belongs;
F (Figs. 1 and 2) surface reserved for inscribing the denomination of the
-subject-represented_by_the_stereoscopic view; G (Fig. 1) drawer of the
box carrying the matches. This stereoscopic box is so combined as to be
equal in shape and surface to ordinary match boxes, although more
simple in its make, while in strict conformity with, the optical laws.
relating to the surfaces A. (Fig. 2) occupied by the stereoscopic view,
in order that the relief of the image or picture upon these surfaces may
be produced when they are viewed in the stereoscope. After having
made a negative stereotype equal in surface to the developement of the
box, Fig. 2, in such a manner that the surfaces A occupied by the
stereoscopic picture are in their proper place, and that of the strips
or bands B, C, D, E, F, in conformity therewith, I then engrave this
stereotype, or I work off the proofs photographically, and I thus obtain
the printed or photographed proofs of the stereoscopic box bearing the
stereoscopic views. The proofs being worked off the formation of the
box is obtained by bending them at the lines M, N, H, I, K; L, O, P,
(Fig. 2,) the end R, S, of the band C is brought under the line O, P,
where it is gummed or otherwise fastened, the strip or flap D is
lowered on to the band C, and I thus obtain the box, Fig. 1, into
which is inserted the drawer G containing the matches. When it is
desired to light a match the flap D, Fig. 1, which is not gummed is
lifted, and the match rubbed on the sanded strip C. As above stated
the strip C may be dispensed with and the drawer be sanded at the
part G, Fig. 1. When it is desired to look at the stereoscopic view
or portrait on the stereoscopic box in a stereoscope, the strip C (Fig. 2)
is unfastened or cut at the line O, P, and the box spread out as at
Fig. 2, the piece C only is cut off at the line M, N, and holding the
spread box by the part D, Fig. 2, it is inserted into the stereoscope and
the stercoscopic image or picture is reproduced in relief absolutely as
with large stereoscopic proofs.

page_text: I sometimes color these views and I do not confine their application to
match boxes, but also apply them to boxes or cases for holding pharma-
ceutical substances, sweetmeats, needles, pins, and other objects, to
cigarette paper cases, pen boxes, and analogous articles.