St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

PH260

Stereoscopic photograph

Swansea RFC Memorabilia Community Interest Company

Mike James

1920s

Stereographic image, B&W, sepia tinted. Rugby match at St Helen's ground, Swansea. Two near identical images, side by side taken from the grandstand, looking north. Two similar shots of a separate piece of action from the same match on the reverse side. Circa 1920s. Dimensions: w 7" x h3 1/4" (w16.8cm x h8.3cm).

This is a pair of photographs taken simultaneously on a stereoscopic camera. The resulting prints have been pasted side by side on card to stiffen them so they can sit on a Stereoscope viewer. This simple equipment (see OT170) allows the viewer to see both images simultaneously, but does not allow each eye to see any of the image the other sees. This is achieved by a divide board. The result is that a "3-D" impression is formed in the brain as each of the two images is shot at a very slight different angle when the image was exposed. In this instance, a photographer with a stereoscopic camera has taken match shots from the grandstand when action has paused to allow a line out to take place, thus giving the camera the best chance of getting two matching images (though at minutely different angles). It is estimated that these shots and those on the reverse, from the same match, were taken some time in the 1920s. This we can say due to the attire of players and crowd and that the old pavilion, replaced in 1930, is still in view in the background. A very large crowd suggests this to have been a senior opposing team versus Swansea, or possibly a Welsh Trial match (whites v stripes). From existing evidence the opponents cannot be more precisely identified. The archive also holds an old Stereoscope viewer, which you can find by its reference OT170.

stereoscope, 3D, st helen's ground, 1920s,