Teleidoscope History

You might be surprised

A teleidoscope is a type of kaleidoscope in which the endpiece containing loose, rainbow colored beads has been replaced by a clear lens. This telescopic device allows the user to transform anything into a kaleidoscopic image simply by looking at it through the lens. Teleidoscope history is closely tied to kaleidoscope history, but with several years between them.

Teleidoscope history: the rainbow outside the kaleidoscope

David Brewster is credited with inventing the kaleidoscope in 1816. Brewster obtained a patent for his kaleidoscope, and enjoyed acknowledgment and acclaim for his invention, but not monetary rewards. Others did, however. There were problems with the patent registration, and before Brewster could claim any financial restitution, kaleidoscopes were quickly manufactured by aggressive entrepreneurs who sold hundreds of thousands with great financial success for themselves. As was the case for so many other great men, this was to be the pattern of Brewster's life: great intellectual achievement without worldly compensation. Even today Brewster is recognized, especially among kaleidoscope and teleidoscope history enthusiasts who belong to the Brewster Kaleidoscope Society. It is a thriving website and organization dedicated to the fascination with this art.

Teleidoscope history followed kaleidoscope history with nearly a century in between. It began with inventor John Burnside (not to be confused with the Scottish writer). More than a century after the kaleidoscope was created in 1816, Burnside was the first inventor to realize that kaleidoscopic images could be created from objects outside the kaleidoscope tube, thus tweaking the moniker and calling it teleidoscope. On a side note, Burnside is also known for his longtime partnership with Harry Hay, credited for starting the gay rights movement. The keen interest in visual devices that led to Burnside inventing the teleidoscope remained throughout his life.