3D 'Stereoview' photos of Coventry

After Helen brought our attention to a super 3D photo in the Holy Trinity church topic I thought a new thread on the subject might be a good idea. So please find in the following posts some super Victorian era stereoview image-pairs of our wonderful city. First, some viewing advice.... It will depend on the image size and any spectacles you might be wearing, but you might have to start with the screen close up and move it slowly away to get the effect. Try looking at the images cross-eyed, then relax your eyes outwards until looking "through" the images into the distance. Eventually a 3rd central image starts to appear, which is the left & right merged. The longer you stare at this "new" 3D image the more detail will become apparent and you will be able to look around it and notice various items, people, etc. at what appears to be varying distances.

Here are three to get us started, beginning with St. John's Church, Fleet Street. The Anglican Chapel at the London Road Cemetery (thanks to member Robthu for this one). Ford's Hospital, Greyfriars' Lane.

Brilliant - Rob, Helen and Robthu.

It's no good, I just go cross eyed. I need stereoscopic eyes instead. However, those are some good photos and the one of Ford's is new to me.

If anyone remembers those Magic Eye books, posters etc. just look at these in the same way.

Me too Helen, I have tried going cross eyed, haven't done that for years, as my mum said I would get stuck like that if I fooled around any more!!!!!! Love those old pictures.

To view stereographs, you need a stereoscope (there are various trade names for both). They can be found on ebay, but the going rate seems to be about £60, and I don't know if they'd work using a screen rather than a postcard.

I remember when the magic eye picture had just come out and there had been a section in the evening news about them but I'd been called to dinner before I could watch but someone mentioned hoax. The next day (I was at a conference) someone had a newspaper with one in. They passed it round and one by one said 'Ah yes, I see it now. It's a train.' It got to me and I looked and saw nothing at all. I thought that the joke was to pretend there was something there but not to tell anyone who hadn't seen the TV prog and to get people to say they'd seen an image when there wasn't one. Emperor's new clothes and all that. I managed to get hold of the newspaper and that evening I eventually did see the big steam train. Not a trick after all but my eyesight is so poor in my right eye, I might not have seen it a decade later.

Super photos, Rob, Helen. What is the building on the right of the Ford's picture? It looks like a pub, presumably The Bell, by the sign?

It is The Bell at the junction of Greyfriars Lane and Warwick Lane.

I tried to improve this one, mainly because of the white patch on the right hand side:

"Proper" viewers are indeed rather expensive. However, a cheaper plastic version sometimes pops up on eBay like this one. Also watch out for the same item using the keyword "Weetabix", who had many of them made in their name. It was probably a "free in the box" promotion, and I ended up with such a viewer from eBay. They're slightly smaller than the expensive viewers, but it won't matter if you're printing your own digitally anyway. If you can't get hold of a stereoscope, though, it's still worth trying my method meanwhile to see if you can view them for free!

Two more super old picture pairs for everyone to ruin their eyesight over! They're probably both Wingrave's photos, the first being a magnificently detailed shot of the "spire" end of the interior of St. Michael's church.... And a fantastic animated view of Smithford Street, taken at a time when seeing a camera was enough to grab the attention of the whole street - something we can barely imagine nowadays! We have David McGrory to thank for allowing us to see these.

Searching for "vistascreen viewer" on eBay has brought up 10 or so 3D lenses, ranging from a fiver up to about £25.

I think looking around junk/antique shops might throw up the special 'spectacles' that prevent the need for screwing up your eyes. Without specs I am cross-eyed anyhow but it does not work for me. Rob, these are outstanding photos. Hurrah for the Forum, and its Founder!