The Kaleidoscope: from Greek, kalos (beautiful), eidos (shape):This was the name given by Sir David Brewster of Edinburgh to the instrument he invented in 1816 and presented to the scientific world in 1817. It illustrated the optical effect derived from the multiplication of images of an object set between mirrors joined together at an angle. The principle of slanting mirrors had been explained by Giambattista Della Porta in the 16 C.. Other variations were subsequently demonstrated: the “Ideador” by Rupprecht (Nurnberg 1814), the “Debuskop” by Debus (Hesse 1860), the “Chromatoscope” (Paris 1861) and the “Typoskop” by Emsmann (Stettin 1862).
Graphic representation of the principle of first kaleidoscopes from:
BROCKHAUS KONVERSATIONSLEXIKON 13rd edition, Leipzig, 1882
To make a kaleidoscope: : There are different ways of conceiving and creating this fantasy of light, shapes and colours. This explanation is based on our knowledge as craftsmen who for more than twenty years, day after day, have been doing their best to create high quality kaleidoscopes. First we take some glass, with its transparencies, colours and transformations and an assembly kit: a do-it-yourself kaleidoscope, no longer in production, with which you can create both a classical kaleidoscope and a teleidoscope (fixed optics
The box contains::
1 metallic tube
1 card pre-marked for folding
3 pieces of mirror
2 lids
3 round transparent glass pieces (1 spare)
2 round sanded glass pieces (1 spare)
1 cardboard eyepiece
1 lens
1 spacer
1 set of coloured glass pieces 		Assembly Instructions

a) Construction of the optical chamber
- fold the card along the pre-marked lines and close with adhesive tape (fig 1)
- remove protective film from the pieces of mirror and insert them into the card with the shiny side facing the inside as indicated in the figure
- apply the adhesive eyepiece to a round transparent glass piece
- place the prism of mirrors and the eyepiece inside the tube; close with the lid.
b) Classical Kaleidoscope: insert a round transparent glass piece into the open end of the tube, followed by the spacer. Fill with coloured glass and then close with a round, sanded glass piece and the lid.
c) Fixed lens kaleidoscope (teleidoscope): proceed as indicated in a); insert the spacer and the optical lens into the open end of the tube; close with lid.

That is how a traditional do-it-yourself kaleidoscope is made, now let us take a better look at some of the other components that make up the inside of a kaleidoscope, especially the artistic glasswork. The external materials: paper, leather, brass and wood, can be seen in the pages that follow.
- The “glass fragments”, the spheres and the wheels: these important components are created one by one, from Murano glass rods and sheets of artistic glass: antique, opalescent and iridescent. The glass is shaped using the lamp work technique to obtain those characteristics of luminosity, transparency, form and colour that contribute to the beauty of our kaleidoscopes. propane gas and oxygen fuel the flame to 1200° furnace for tempering the glass at 550° and fusion at 850°
after shaping the glass completes its transformation
in the annealing and tempering furnaces


aspherical lens
The prism 		- The lenses: our lenses, another component of primary importance for obtaining the best kaleidoscopic views, are produced in Italy.
- ocular lenses: we use PCX (piano-convex) both glass and methacrylate. The eyepiece is placed at the focal point of the objective lens to magnify a virtual image.
- objective aspherical lenses: we use this particular type of lens in the production of teleidoscopes ( fixed optics). They act as converging lenses and create a virtual image at their focal point.


foto high vacuum metal coating equipment 		The mirrors: these “deceivers”and chaotic illusionists arethe heart of the kaleidoscope. Without going into the whole history of the symbolism of mirrors in ancient Greek, Chinese or Egyptian cultures, we know that magical powers were attributed to shiny, reflective surfaces (in the first instance, water). It was said they could reflect the soul or even be the doorway to supernatural experiences. Industrial mirrors as we know them today, were already produced in the second half of the 19th century. At first this process consisted basically in spreading a solution of liquid silver (silver nitrate) on the back of a sheet of glass, which was then protected with a coat of paint to prevent oxidation. Today, ordinary mirrors used for interior decoration are not very different and continue to be made in the same way with a thin coating of metal (silver, copper, aluminium etc.) applied to the back. In the production of optical and scientific equipment, from telescopes to medical instruments, special highly reflective mirrors called front surface mirrors are used. These mirrors transmit an image almost identical to the subject and the metal is applied to the front surface of the mirror by high vacuum coating. This type of mirror is used in the creation of Aleph kaleidoscopes. All the above components contribute to the clear, luminous and amazing kaleidoscopic views of our kaleidoscopes.
After reading the above, you may be surprised at how much knowledge goes into the making of a good kaleidoscope. But let us not forget that a kaleidoscope is purely a game, and it was a game that led to the creation of the first Aleph kaleidoscope more than twenty years ago in our workshop. It is our belief that neither this object, nor any other however inspiring, can substitute a person's individual fantasy and creativity.
“The Aleph?” –I repeated.
”Yes, the place where all the places of the earth meet, without getting mixed, seen from all angles…”
J.L.Borges – Buenos Aires 1949

continue: A fantastic story, Borges, L’Aleph and kaleidoscopes

"Jorge Luis Borges, just as if he were still a teenager at 45 years old, used to shower his fiancé Estela Canto with numerous gifts.
One day he gave her a kaleidoscope that her housekeeper’s son broke and from the vision of those scattered pieces of broken glass, that once formed patterns, The Aleph was born..."(more)