The see-through saga continues with these fascinating finds (Well, I think they're fascinating....), all of which serve to remind us that X-ray specs, gogs, and whatnot predate comic books by decades, despite their "iconic" connection with same. X-ray vision was, in fact, originally the stuff of newspapers, family magazines, novelty catalogs, and Popular Mechanics. Now you know.
First up, the "X=ray Wonder" from the C. Armstrong Co., which might be the monocular postcard I showed last time--just a guess. I found this ad hiding in the same November, 1908 Home Life magazine that gave us all those genteel and refined "cuts" of two posts back.
Then, from eBay (see the lower-right-hand logo), a made-in-Japan X-Ray tube that may (or may not be) from the 1950s. Didn't bid on it, but almost did.
I did bid on, and win, this next one--a stereo X-ray Post Card (X-ray Card Co., Brenham, Texas) from on or about 1910. With it, I experienced my first-ever instance of "X-ray" vision, which can only be gotten against a very bright light source (as in, a window facing the sun). Is it a convincing effect? Only if, by "convincing," you mean utterly fake.
From the same 1908 Home Life as the "X=ray Wonder," an ad cut for X-ray Stove Polish. "Shines brightest." Fine, but can you see the bones in the stove? That's what we want to know.
Lastly, typical 1907 racism on a 1907 X-ray card--this time, from our friends at Cunningham & Co., Williamsport, Pa. Featured at eBay. Those of us who collect old magazines and sheet music see this sort of imagery pretty constantly:
Lee
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