phenakistoscope 1832

the phenakistoscope was also invented in the same year by a man called Simon Stampfer. He called the device a stroboscope. Joseph plateaus invention was inspired by Michael Faraday's invention "Michael Fridays Wheel" which was an early example of an electrical generator.  this worked in a similar way to the phenakistoscope but instead the two discs spun in opposite directions.

As the phenakistoscope became more popular it recived othernames such as phantasmascope and fantoscope. in Britain it was also known as phenakistiscope. Joseph's invention was very successful for two years until the zoetrope was invented by William Horner. this new invention was an improved version of the phenakistoscope. The first improvement was, it did not need to be viewed through a mirror. the second improvement was, it could be viewed by multiple people at one time.

If you are interested in creating your own phenakistoscope then the video bellow will give you instructions on how yo create your own phenakistoscope.

sources:
http://courses.ncssm.edu/gallery/collections/toys/html/exhibit07.htm