1853-1857       408 North Second, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1853 March 25.  The New York Herald.  (New York, New York.)  March 25, 1853, Whole No. 7398, P. 6.

American Genius.  List of patents issued from the United States Patent Office for the week ending March 8, 1853, and bearing the date March 8, 1853….I. F. Mascher, of Philadelphia, Pa.—For improvement in daguerreotype cases.

1853 April 25.  The New York Herald.  (New York, New York.)  April 25, 1853, Whole No. 7429, P. 6.

Solid Daguerreotype Pictures.—Mascher’s improved stereoscopic patent, March 8, 1853, is acknowledged by the best judges to be more practical, more efficient, portable, and by at least 100 per cent cheaper, than any other extant.  It is, in fact, an ordinary daguerreotype case, the stereoscopic attachment occupying the room now taken up by the useless velvet cushion.  A sample will be sent by mail, free of postage, on receipt of $1.

1853 June 6.  The New York Herald.  (New York, New York.)  June 6, 1853, Whole No. 7471, P. 6.

Fine Arts.  Improvement In The Daguerrean Art.—A beautiful discovery has just been made by J. T. Mascher, of Philadelphia, in the daguerrean art, which ought to ensure him a handsome fortune in a few years.  By this discovery two pictures of the same person, taken on one plate, are, though the aid of his stereoscope, made to appear as if they were one life-like statue.  It is well known that nearly all daguerreotype pictures, as well as portraits in oil, are flat and inanimate; but likenesses view through the stereoscope are not only magnified as large as life, but are, by binocular vision, converted into apparently solid pictures.  His stereoscope is all contained in a common daguerreotype case; in fact the case is the stereoscope, simply having a flap, containing two convex lenses, arranged in the lid of the otherwise ordinary case.  When a person desires to look at the picture, he simply raises that side of the case containing the lenses, and view the picture through them, which then appears to the eye as one portrait, magnified to a great extent, with the features and dress clearly delineated.  Mr. Mascher accomplished his invention by such simple yet effectual means that it makes every one wonder why it was not discovered long before.

1853 June 7.  The New York Herald.  (New York, New York.)  June 7, 1853, Whole No. 7472, P. 5.

Daguerreotypes By Meade, Brother’s.—Rooms refitted and furnished for the season, and daguerreotypes taken by a new process, excelling all their past efforts.  The public are invited to call and examine our new collection of herescopic instruments, purchased by one of the firm now in Europe.  We are also sole agents for the sale of Maschers’ celebrated portable herescopes, [sic.] for solid daguerreotypes.  This is one of the wonders of the art.  Our rooms are directly opposite the Park fountain, and the finest location in the city, 233 Broadway, first floor, up stairs.—See Herald of yesterday on Fine Arts.

Advertisement ran from June 7 to 10, 1853.

1854 November 28.  The Pennsylvanian.  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)  November 28, 1854, Vol. XI, No. 250, P. 3.

Larceny of a Daguerreotype.—Yesterday Mr. Mascher, the inventor of the Portable Stereoscope Daguerreotype cases, had a case containing a valuable portrait stolen from his display at the Franklin Institute.  The picture contained the likeness of a lady, and it was generally conceded to be one of the best stereoscopic pictures ever taken.  The thief has benefitted himself very little by his petty pilfering, while he has caused the owner of the picture a serious loss.

1854 December 4.  Philadelphia Inquirer.  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)  December 4, 1854, Vol. XI, No. 250, P. 3.

Awards of the Franklin Institute.—The following are some of the principal premiums awarded by the Franklin Institute.  The exhibition closed on Saturday evening:

First Premiums…

M. A. Root, Daguerreotypes…

J. F. Mascher, Stereoscopes…

1855 February 21.  Washington Sentinel. (Washington, D. C.)  February 21, 1855, Vol. 3, No. 125, P. 3.

Mechanics’ Institute Fair.—To a majority of the visitors to the fair of the Metropolitan Mechanics’, the room devoted to the exhibition of specimens of the fine arts seems to possess the greatest amount of attraction.  The portraits of Walker; the daguerreotypes and photographs of Whitehurst, and the stereoscopes of Mascher, are objects of constant attention and admiration; but among the most conspicuous and interesting display of the arts in this department is a collection of lithographic portraits of eminent men, published by C. H. Brainard, of Boston.  This collection includes portraits of Seward, Sumner, Douglas, Toombs, and other prominent senators; and of Rev. C. M. Butler; Rev. Byron Sunderland; Bishop Eastburn, of Massachusetts, and several other eminent divines.  Until we examine these portraits we were unprepared to witness the great degree of perfection which the lithographic art has attained in this country. Nothing ever produced in the Old World can surpass these specimens.  The portraits by Grozelier, of Boston, principally from daguerreotypes by Vannerson, of this city…

1856 February 19.  Evening Star.  (Washington, D. C.)  February 19, 1856, Vol. VII, No. 945, P. 2.

Patents week ending February 19, 1856…Additional Improvements—J. F. Mascher, of Philadelphia, Pa.—For improvement in daguerreotype cases.  Patented March 9, 1853. No. 9,611. 

1856 February 24.  The New York Herald.  (New York, New York.)  February 24, 1856, Whole No. 7118, P. 6.

Patents week ending February 19, 1856…Additional Improvements—J. F. Mascher, of Philadelphia, Pa.—For improvement in daguerreotype cases.  Patented March 9, 1853.

1857 February 11.  Evening Star.  (Washington, D. C.)  February 11, 1857, Vol. IX, No. 1,270, P. 1.

Patents week ending February 10, 1857… John F. Mascher, of Philadelphia, P. A..—For process of ornamenting daguerreotype cases, &c.  No. 16,600. 

1857 February 14.  Daily Pennsylvanian.  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)  February 14, 1857, Vol. XLV, No. 39, P. 2.

Philadelphia Patents.  We find the following among the list of patents issued at Washington this week:—

John F. Mascher, of Philadelphia, Pa.—For process of ornamenting daguerreotype cases, &c…

1858 April 10.  Philadelphia Demokrat.  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)  April 10, 1858, No. 184, P. 2.

Card.  I see with regret my name upon a Independent Democratic Ticket, it is there unauthorized by me.  John F. Mascher.

1859 March 2.  The Dollar Newspaper.  (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)  March 2, 1859, Vol. XVII, No. 9, P. 2.

List of Patents.  The following is a list of patents issued from the United States Patent Office for the week ending Feb. 8, 1859…

John F. Mascher, of Philadelphia, Pa.—For improvement in alarm clocks.