A. Mattey, Paris, France

Mattey was perhaps the most innovative maker of stereo apparatus in the world. He produced various photographic items starting in the 1890's and some of it was still in catalogs in 1948. Mattey purchased other competitors and had several addresses in Paris over the years. Products were sold under the "Star" brand and "Unis France" brand and they were sold by retailers throughout Europe. Most all the French viewers shown on this site were produced by Mattey.

The viewer shown below is called a "Coffin Viewer" because of the cover. Notable features of this viewer are the 5 1/2" magnifying glass, the built in and adjustable "Brewster" viewer behind the lens plate, the burl wood veneer and the brass inlay on the cover. This viewer was purchased from Paul Wing in 1996 and is the actual viewer shown in his book on page 142 at the bottom of the page.

© 2007 - Del Phillips