Joseph L. Bates (1806 or 1807 – March 2, 1886) was an American merchant and manufacturer based in Boston specializing in musical instruments, umbrellas, stereoscopic photographs and viewers, and fancy goods. Despite being a dealer of stereographic photographs, he was likely not a photographer himself.[1]

Garnet Pool near Glen House in New Hampshire
Boston Museum
City Hall
Old City Hall
Quincy Market
Horticultural Hall
Mount Washington (New Hampshire) cog railroad

Career

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Bates began his business in 1828 as a manufacturer of musical instruments at 44 Market St., Boston.[2] The following year he moved to 6 Court Street, by which time he had expanded into the manufacture and repair of umbrellas and parasols.[3]

He published and sold stereoscopic photographs of Boston and New England scenery, landscapes, and buildings. Many are included in the extensive Getty Center photography collection, located in Los Angeles, California.[4]

Holmes and Bates stereoscope

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In 1861, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. invented the first handheld stereoscope. Choosing not to patent it, Bates manufactured and sold his design.[5]

References

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Bibliography

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  • Getty Museum. "Joseph L. Bates". Getty Museum. J. Paul Getty Trust. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  • Historic New England. "Advertisement for Joseph L. Bates, musical instruments, umbrellas and parasols, No. 6 Court Street, Boston, Mass., 1829". Historic New England. Historic New England. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  • Phillips, Del (2006). "Joseph L. Bates, Boston Merchant". CenturyTel. CenturyTel. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  • Stack's Bowers Galleries (April 2019). "1862 Joseph L. Bates. One Cent. HB-49, EP-6a, S-26, Reed-BA01FG. FANCYGOODS. Choice Extremely Fine". Stack's Bowers Galleries. Historic New England. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  • Treadwell, T. K.; Darrah, William C. (1994). Photographers of the United States of America (PDF). National Stereoscopic Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.