Praxinoscope

The Praxinoscope is about 1877 developed by Émile Reynaud precursor method of cinematography, in which by means of a mirror arrangement, the dark periods between the images are turned off. 1892 could thus be achieved with image bands a projection period of 15 minutes.

In the initial state is the Praxinoscope ( the so-called " magic drum " ) is a flat rotating open-topped cylinder about the size of a record. Its curved outer wall is about 10 cm high. On the inside of a filmstrip with usually 8 or 12 pictures of a cyclic motion sequence is attached. In the center of the cylinder there is a mirror prism having arranged in a regular polygon mirrors. The number of levels (number of side faces of the prism ) and the number of frames of the film strip to correspond. The average radius of the mirror prism is exactly half of the radius to the screen on the cylinder jacket. Thus, the images of the inner wall of the drum to be mirrored exactly to the middle, where they then despite rotating drum for the viewer to stand still and seem to move fluently. A quiet sequence of motions.

With a transparent exterior wall through which a long image strip is performed, can be in place of the cyclic motion, a longer film show.

The Praxinoscope is an evolution of the older zoetrope.

• Historical projection device