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A collection of 18 antique American glass lantern slides illustrating industrial machinery, machine tools and developments in metalworking technology.
Probably assembled during the late 1920s or 1930s for a technical lecture, industrial training presentation or commercial demonstration.
Several slides retain the printed labels of two established New York lantern-slide manufacturers:
T. H. McAllister-Keller Co., Inc.
176 Fulton Street, New York City
Edward Van Altena
71–79 West 45th Street, New York City
The subjects include machinery and products associated with several historically important industrial manufacturers.
Identified subjects include:
Krupp WIDIA cemented-caroffere cutting tools, distributed in America by Thomas Prosser & Son, New York.
A comparative machining test demonstrating the cutting performance of WIDIA against conventional high-speed steel.
Brown & Sharpe machine-tool equipment, including a Midget Tool Grinder.
Additional industrial machinery, machining equipment and engineering illustrations.
The WIDIA material is particularly interesting historically. Introduced to American industry in the late 1920s, cemented-caroffere cutting tools represented a significant development in metalworking technology.
One slide illustrates a comparative test reporting cutting speeds of 590 feet per minute for WIDIA against 100 feet per minute for high-speed steel under the stated test conditions.
Several slides reproduce contemporary printed machinery photographs or catalogue illustrations, with the original halftone printing patterns visible.
The slides retain handwritten numbers, probably indicating their original presentation sequence.
Construction and dimensions
18 glass lantern slides, each approximately 82 × 101 mm (3¼ × 4 inches).
Photographic images mounted between two thin sheets of glass, with paper masks and edge vintage condition with age-related wear to the paper mounts and bindings.
Three McAllister-Keller slides have cracked glass, one to both sheets of glass. OneEdward Van Altena slide has had some repair (new tape added). These are all visible best in the individual photos of each slide. I am happy to send other images on request.
Other slides may show minor surface marks, dust, scratches or deterioration consistent with age.
Please examine the photographs carefully, particularly those showing the cracked glass.
The original labels, handwritten numbers and bindings have been preserved.
Sold as a complete collection of 18 slides.
A distinctive collection of early 20th-century American industrial imagery, of interest to collectors of machine tools, engineering history, photographic lantern slides and industrial technology.
