An inventor named Herman Casler came up with a device that animated still images using a hand cranked winch. This was in 1894. He probably didn't know that his device would still be used today to animate digital files instead. This is The Giphoscope.

Officina K dusted off the old invention and gave it a modern touch up. It is still basically the same device - it has an aluminum ring that holds a few hundred still photos, but instead of normal pics, the images are derived from GIFs.

You can order one from Officina K's collection (Public Domain Review also has some fun Muybridge and Edison ones for sale), or you can commission them to make one based on a GIF you supply yourself.



Check it out over at the links: [The Giphoscope via @nicolatwilley]