Antique Handheld Perfecscope Stereoscope This is a metal "Perfecscope" by the company H.C. White who patented this product in 1895. This is hand etched and in good condition with no known damage. The lenses work well and this works well. These are a great find. approx 12in long, 7in tall weight: History: Virtual reality has been with us for a long time. One of the earliest tools was the stereoscope. People could look through two eyepieces at two photos taken at slightly different angles to see a three-dimensional image for the first time. Adults and children were able to travel to interesting places from the comfort of their homes and classrooms. ​ The earliest stereoscope has been attributed to Sir Charles Wheatstone as well as to David Brewster. Both worked in the early 1800s. Stereoscopes were also called stereo viewers. They quickly became the most popular forms of entertainment for middle- and upper-class families during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Oliver Wendell Holmes invented an updated, hand-held version of the stereoscope which then became the favorite for home and classroom use from 1881 to 1939.