The Society's Last Meeting

The morning was taken up with the business of the Society AGM. The present Committee was re-elected without contest.

The afternoon program began with a fantastic display of Wheel of Life slides by Lester Smith and Martin Gilbert. The range of subjects and sophisticated animations produced were superb.

Rob MacDonald then enthralled everyone with his talk on Peep Eggs. Known at the time they were produced as “Spar Ornaments”, Robert explained how they were produced and sold. An new area of research that seems to have been neglected until Robert began his work.

Bernd Scholtze talked about his recent experiences visiting the Lincke Collection in Germany. The collection has been on display since the early 20th Century and was untouched for years. It includes a wide range of items that would have formed a "Cabinet of Curiosities" in the 18th Century. Included are a very early magic lantern (perhaps 1750's) and a "Ghost Box", a small coffin like device apparently used to conjour up a ghost projected on to smoke - a Phantasmagoria machine. There was a lively discussion among the audince on how it might have worked. Bernd has more research to carry out.

Keith Utteridge and David Elsbury entertained with the “New Year's Famous Magic Lantern Quiz” (won by Richard Crangle) before the final session ended with a Bring and Show, including peep eggs and a possible projection device.

A fantastic meeting.