Of Stereographs And Ambrotypes

S. R. Fisher & Nathan Parker

The horse moved in a lively trot, as the wheels spun glimmering in the sunlight, guided by two eager drivers riding in their wagon transporting a complete darkroom set up. They embarked on a day to seek out beautiful landscapes for stereo views. Emblazoned on the wagon were the words: “S. R. Fisher, Landscape Photographer, 226 Main Street Norristown,” Stereographs were a popular three-dimensional optical toy of the Victorian Age, bringing scenes from around the world right into your living room.

Fisher settled in Norristown but began his career in West Chester with the purchase of Nathan Parker’s Studio. You can read about Parker’s rocky career as an ambrotypist in my article titled: “Nathan Parker’s War of Words with Isaac Rehn” in the Daguerreian Annual 2019/2020, published by the Daguerreian Society. Parker fought Rehn’s accusations of not paying Rehn’s fee for his patent ambrotypes publicly in the local newspapers. It is Nathan Parker’s advertisement that graces the home page of the Chester County Photographist.

S. R. Fisher returned to Chester County, at least once to take stereographs of two significant properties. We do not know if he came by invitation or on speculation. Chester County is full of scenery suitable for marketable stereographs. So other stereo images may be hidden in local family collections.

Stereographs of Chester County are quite rare. It is always exciting to find photographers from our county who were practitioners. Among Chester County’s stereographers who have examples of their work in the collection of the Chester County History Center are: T. W. Taylor, J. B. Gibson, H. R. Chillman and S. R. Fisher.