Build Your Own Magic Lantern, 1910s

From the encyclopedic series The Book Of Knowledge comes this bit of practical information: "How To Build A Magic Lantern". These are what we'd call today a "slide projector". At the time, however, slides were images on largish pieces of glass, and the light source was an open flame. The instructions rely on store-bought lenses, but the body is completely manufactured by hand from materials such as brass, japanned tin, and wood. If the steampunks among you are interested in building a paraffin-powered LCD projector, this is a starting point.