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The OPTICA 35 mm Projector Mike Trickett
Made in Germany, circa 1923, the Optica was made by the well known German toy maker Bing
Werke in Nuremberg.
The sturdily well made machine was origi-
nally hand turned, but the unit shown has had
an electric motor add to the underside.

The early model of this type was produced
on 1921, the mechanism was mounted on a
wooden base board and incorporated a beater
type intermittent movement.

The later model shown utilises a maltese
cross type intermittent movement.

The light source is a domestic type light
globe, located in the rather ornate lamp house.

Of more interest that the actual projector, is
the story behind the company that made it.
The Bing Company was founded in 1863 in
Nuremberg, Germany by the brothers, Ignaz
Bing and Adolf Bing, originally producing
metal kitchen
utensils, but best remembered for its extensive lines of model trains
and live steam engines. The company’s destinctive logo can be found
of all sorts of items, ranging form this semi-professional projector to
basic toys, with a large range of other metal products in between.

The company produced fine pewter and copper tableware before
embarking on toy production in 1880. By the early 20th century, Bing
was the largest toy company in the world, and Bing's factory in
Nuremberg was the largest toy factory in the world. Although Bing produced numerous toys, it
is best remembered today for toy trains and live steam powered toys. In addition to toys it made
scientific and educational novelties, and a huge range of kitchenware, tableware, office
equipment, record players, electrical goods and so on.
The "Nuremberg Style" of manufacturing toys on steel sheets
with lithographed designs that were stamped out of the metal,
formed, and assembled
using tabs and slots, was
perfected by Bing.

Left: the metal cover forms a
sturdy carry case. Right: the
Optica name plate with the
inverted BW indicating the
manufacturer.

30 REEL DEALS September 2019