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Objective Lens - The lens at the front of the magic lantern which focuses the slide on to the screen.

Oil Lamp - The most usual form of illuminant for domestic lanterns of any period. They vary from simple single wick lamps in child's lanterns to sophisticated oil lamps with three or four wicks which are designed to maximise the light for larger shows.

Optical Lantern - An alternative name for the magic lantern, more often used in scientific and educational circles.

Optimus - The trade name used by the firm of Perken Son and Rayment

Plank - Ernst Plank were the foremost manufacturer of Toy Lanterns. They were a German firm formed in 1866. They often sold sets comprising a lantern and slides, and these can still be found today. They also manufactured other tinplate toys.

Polarising Slides - There are a number of slides that were partly constructed from a form of Mica that changes colour under polarised light. These slides include such subjects as flowers. With the use of an Elbow Polarascope or other polarising device, it is possible to rotate the polarisation and make the flower change colour.

Phantasmagoria - This is the name given to the sort of magic lantern shows that were given in the last years of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth. They were generally of a horrific nature, with skeletons projected on the walls and bodies appearing to rise from coffins.

Primus - The trade name used for lanterns produced by the firm of Butcher and Sons. famous for the Junior Lecturer Series of slides