Rotating Planetarium originally used for educational purposes.
This Trippensee Planetarium c. 1900 was created and originally used for educational purposes in a classroom setting. It had possibly been found by John Spahr in a schoolhouse near Shelton, Nebraska. The object is made of various materials, and still functions properly. The Smithsonian website for the National Museum of American History notes: The Laing Co., of Detroit, Mi., manufactured planetariums based on the patent (#578,108) issued to Alexander Laing in 1897. Frank Trippensee (a Laing employee) and his brothers bought the firm in 1905, and turned the simple string and pulley instrument into one that used a chain drive and gears. That form—for which Frank Trippenssee received patents in the United States (#881,875) and Canada in 1908—proved remarkably successful and remains in production to this day. It still has the original wooden box that it is stored in (see photographs).
Trippensee Mfg. Co. near Detroit, Michigan
University of Nebraska at Kearney (Images)
Four Daguerreotype Photographs in Original Boxes
Four black and white photographs (daguerreotypes) in their original boxes. Each box has red fabric (possibly velvet or velveteen), a gold-colored frame (possibly real gold or gold gilt), with decoration on the outside of the box, and each has a small clasp. Each photograph is a portrait of a person.
Unknown - possibly created by Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre, the inventor the Daguerreotype.
Handcrafted, wooden box c. 19th century. Box opens with the top lid, and contains several removable, wooden drawers and compartments. Sear Family attests that the box was handcrafted.
Collection of Early Nebraska Photographs
Four black and white photographs of "Burt" Fox, Hubert. He is the one wearing the light-colored fur/feather chaps. In the photograph where he is on another man's shoulders, the second man has not been identified.