My name is Ann and I suffer from a serious case of techno-lust. I come by this honestly, as I am a science writer in my day job, and things like an innovative solar energy design or a femtosecond timing system for particle accelerators send a pleasurable shiver down my spine. But my obsession with technology does not stop when the sun goes down. After the day’s work is done, I turn my attention to writing the Silver Rush historical mystery series (set in 1880s Colorado), and the technology quest continues… only with a focus on a century different from our own.
For my most recent book, Mercury’s Rise, I became enthralled by any number of science/technology topics, including the 19th-century understanding and treatment of tuberculosis (also known as consumption, the white plague, phthisis, etc.). Physicians didn’t know what caused consumption until the discovery of the tubercle bacillus by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882. Thus, doctors were pretty much working in the dark until then. Remedies ran from the common-sensical (lots of fresh air, moderate exercise, healthy diet, etc.), to the horrifying (some of the “cures” involved concoctions of nasty elements such as mercury), to the mystifying (one physician advocated growing a beard as a prevention/cure for consumption… obviously this cure was for “men only”; women sufferers: good luck).
One of my techno-obsessions that rose to a fever pitch during the researching and writing of Mercury’s Rise involved stereoscopy (essentially a very early versions of “3D” photography). It got so that I was haunting eBay, looking for stereoscopic images of Colorado, particularly of Manitou Springs (the setting for Mercury’s Rise) and Leadville (the primary setting for the Silver Rush series in general).
Example of a stereoscopic card (of Boston, not Colorado, alas). The two side-by-side images are slightly different. They are mounted onto a stereoscope such that each eye sees only the image in front of it. The brain merges the two images together into a single "3-D" image.
Yes, it got a little crazy, particularly when a friend pointed me to a nifty photographic offering on eBay: an 1880s stereoscope and 50 stereographic cards. I didn’t need it. I wasn’t sure I could afford it. But… I kept going back to the page. Couldn’t stop myself. I finally admitted it to myself: I had to have it. And I had to have it now. I lurked and watched and pounced in at the final hour, emerging triumphant from a minor bidding war.
I am now the proud owner of a little piece of 19th century technology, which makes me a very happy woman. My plan is to haul the stereoscope and sample cards from signing to signing, and share my excitement. After all, what good is an obsession if you don’t share it with others, whether it’s an obsession with technology, history, or mystery … or, in my case, all three?
Ann Parker is the author of the award-winning Silver Rush mystery series set in 1880s Colorado. You can find out more about Ann, her books, and her obsessions on her website at http://www.annparker.net. She also hangs around Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/annparker.writer, looking for friends and friendly conversation about history, mysteries, science and technology.
Ordered Mercury’s Rise to be delivered 11/1. Oh well. Miss seeing you at writer’s conferences. I have cut back a lot attending them and then they cancelled Mahem in the Midlands. I remember, as a kid, the libraries all had stereoscopes–wooden affairs with the card holder moving back and forth on a wooden rod. Geez, what a thrill. Big city libraries had dozens of travel slides, smaller libraries like the one in my nearby town had maybe a dozen. As to TB, I became interested in it while I was in Golden, Co and mainly because of my fascination with Doc Holliday of Tombstone fame and his ties to Colorado. Take care.
Hello Jim!
Yes, it’s sad that Mayhem in the Midlands went away… it’s tough times for conferences and many conference-goers as well. It sounds like the library stereoscopes are exactly like the one I bought off eBay, sliding card-holder and all! Only on mine, the “slide” doesn’t work very well. I shall have to see if we can fix that before I take it on the road. Ah, Doc Holliday! I’d love to work him into a story. He was in Leadville (for a couple of visits, as I recall), but it was in 1884, I think. Hope all is going well with you and your writing…
Why, thank you! I do hope you enjoy the latest in the “ongoing saga.”
Ann,
I remember stereopticons in machines at Asbury Park when a wee child and fascination with them in friends’ family col;lections…oh, how I wish I could put my hands on them now. Love the stories your article has evoked!
Arletta
Hello Arletta! I well recall the little plastic ones from when I was a child. And, being one of those children who loved to loved to rumble around in “the trunks in the basement” of my grandparents’ homes, I came across several of the old-fashioned wood-and-leather viewers, just like the one I bought on eBay! I had no idea what they were back then, and they have long since disappeared (oh, the pain!).
I remember as a kid all we wanted for Christmas were those little “viewmasters” with slides; the hot technology of the 50′s — plastic! Some things are priceless, and Ann was lucky to find such a bargain.
Hello Marilyn! Oh my gosh, I remember those viewers too! I believe there was a bright red one in my past, and I recall a lot of Disney wheels (Snow White and what-have-you)… they are now considered “antique and collectible” toys. It’s a little unnerving when items from one’s personal past become antiques and collectibles…
Thanks for the memories!
Ha, you’re lucky. I almost bought a spitoon off eBay for the same reason. I remember using one of those spectrographs decades ago. Don’t remember who had it, but it was so neat at the time.
Good luck with future eBay quests.
A spitoon! I’d be tempted by that as well! Uh-oh, I feel another eBay hunt coming on…
Thanks Pat, and here’s wishing you well in your writing and other endeavors. Thanks for coming by and commenting!
That early form of 3D is fascinating, isn’t it? Particularly as the views, which may have seemed commonplace to many at the time, preserve wonderful depictions of places and people and customs now long gone. Did you ever find any for Leadville?
Hello Mary!
I don’t have any stereographic photos of Leadville, alas, but the “deck of 50″ I received with the reader *does* include a nifty one of the Denver & Rio Grande hanging bridge in Colorado… most of the others are of scenery in Arkansas and places east and south. You’re right: It’s fascinating to see what was photographed back then. Oh! I *did* buy a standalone card of Saratoga Springs. (The eBay mania continues, on and off… :-} )
Ann, you are a woman after my own heart. History, mystery, science & technology — heaven! I envy you your stereoscope. There are so many historical gadgets I’d love to own, but with no room to store them, I have to settle with visiting the American Museum of Radio and Electricity up in Bellingham, WA about a 2 hour drive from my house. You’d love it there! I do have my eye out, however, for maybe one or two historical gadgets, something portable to bring to signings. I’ve got a modern plasma ball that is fun and displays Tesla’s invention, and a cool magnet & conductor that my science guru gave me to demonstrate a simple generator. But I don’t have anything historical. Yet!
Hi Bernadette! I look forward to the day when we have a chance to meet face-to-face. I was very excited when I read about your debut book, “Spark of Death.” Sounds like my kind of read!
I was as excited reading about techno-lust as you were writing about it, Ann
What an interesting tidbit of research you discovered while writing your latest book.
From one historical writer to another, I think all historical authors have to have some kind of obsessive/passionate qualities in order to find just the right information for our stories. I know I do, too!
Alice
Hello Alice!
It’s funny how one gets all caught up in these fascinating tidbits as one writes… Oftentimes it’s just a “simple” question, and before you know it, hours have gone by in hunting up the answer. I think you’re right: most historical authors probably have a little obsessive streak or else why would we put ourselves through all this, right?
Hello Irene! Thank you for the kind words and for stopping by the Press’s blog!
I too hope our paths cross and you can see the cards and viewer for yourself… they are in great shape, for being about 125 yrs old…
Looking forward very much to reading Mercury Rising. And if I get lucky, I may get to one of your presentations featuring the stereographic pictures. What fun! Thanks, Ann.