C. F. Bally Söhne Tin Stereoscope
Germany, 1900s
This lithographed tin stereo viewer references the famous Bally shoe company, founded in the Swiss town of Schönenwerd by Carl Franz Bally in 1851 and later run by his sons, Eduard and Arthur. The Bally shoe line still exists today. We have two versions of the Bally folding stereoscope in our collection.
Bally - German
Text translates to: “Wear bally shoes — each pair has the full company name Bally stamped on the soles as a guarantee of the best material, work and fit”
Bally - French
This French version of the Bally viewer has a message similar to the above German version. The text translates to: “Wear Bally shoes — the Bally brand is on each sole as a guarantee of exquisite workmanship. With first choice materials, the bally shoe is elegant, fits well, is excellent in use: it's the best you can wear.”
