Thaumatrope
The
Thaumatrope also known as the “Wonder Turner” is a Mechanical Optical Illusion
published in 1825. The way that it works, Is there are two images sitting back
to back on a small disc, with string attached to it at either end. You have to spin
the disc forwards and backwards, making sure that the string is held tight to
ensure that it keeps spinning which will create a better optical illusion.
The advantages
of using of the Thaumatrope are that its inexpensive, it doesn’t cost a lot of
money to create one or buy one. Disadvantages are that the disc can get wet and
could destroy the images that are on it. The string could snap or the disc
could rip. The inventor of the Thaumatrope was Sir John Herschel an inventor
and astronomer from Slough, England. The Thaumastrope became popular by John
Ayrton Paris a British Physician.
A well-known
example of the Thaumatrope is bird perched in a Cage. Which is an Image of a
Bird on One Side and on the other is a cage. When Spun, it appears that the bird
is in the cage.
Another well-known
example of the Thaumatrope is of a Dog and Bird. The illusion of this is it
appears that the dog is trying to scare the birds away.
What became of the Thaumatrope?
Most pairs of Thaumatrope images were pictures that did not
imply motion, such as running animals or dancing people. A Thaumatrope
could only take two images and merge them, essentially creating one still image
from two. The Phenakistoscope was a great improvement on the Thaumatrope,
creating one moving image from several stills, and became the first optical toy
to create a true illusion of motion.
