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A beautiful and rare magic lantern slide of the R.M.S. Olympic, with its original lifeboat configuration. This slide is a copy of a photo taken by Harland & Wolff’s official photographer, Welch, Robert John, during the Olympic’s sea trials on 29th May 1911.
The Magic Lantern was the forerunner of the modern slide projector, and was in popular use throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. This particular slide was produced by Newton & Co. Newton & Co. were active as lantern and slide manufacturers from 1852 until after the Second World War, based at various addresses in London. They produced a large number of slides focused around educational and religious subjects. Newton developed some of the most important innovations in the technical history of the magic lantern, including the three and four wick burner. These were developed as complete units for easy replacement and to dissipate the heat inside the lighting unit rather than through the lantern.
