# Animated Antique Posographe — A 1920s mechanical marvel

> Animated 1920s mechanical photographic exposure calculator with mathematical illustrations. (iPhone/iPad app by Ace Hoffman.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/animated-antique-posographe/id1488545400 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Ace Hoffman](https://appshunter.io/developer/704983956)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 30 MB
- Languages: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Indonesian and 15 more
- Released: 2019-11-20
- Data updated: 2026-06-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/animated-antique-posographe/id1488545400/reviews.md

## What is Animated Antique Posographe?

The Kaufmann Posographe is a fascinating mechanical contraption which was used by photographers in the early 20th Century to set their exposure times.  Back then exposures were measured in seconds, and everyone in the picture had to freeze ("pose") for the entire time.  Film plates were expensive and difficult to handle, so do-overs were avoided as much as possible.  Over 100,000 French versions of the Posographe were sold alone, as well as tens of thousands of English-language versions.  (Although this program is in English, the far more common French Posographe is depicted.)

This animation was originally created based on an article in the Oughtred Society's bi-annual journal, Spring 2019 issue, and then the lead programmer purchased an antique Posographe in order to make more accurate measurements and higher resolution photographs, to check the placement of some hidden connections, and lastly, to test the accuracy of the model against an actual Posographe. It’s very close!

Kaufmann invented and patented several versions of the Posographe and a couple of other related mechanical contraptions. The mathematical theory behind how the Posographe works was conceived around the same time, and Kaufmann apparently had a number of correspondences with the mathematician who invented the theory.  Although the theory is not explained here, the math behind the Posographe is illustrated with connecting lines, colored brass plates (or not, if you prefer!), circles indicating intersecting positions of the pieces, and various additional ways of exploring "under the hood."

This program has fairly extensive math operating in the background, so it's best to have lots of battery life if running the program while on a batteries, especially if you turn on the "auto-move" feature and simply watch it run -- which is a lot of fun to do, by the way!

If using a keyboard, the following keys are available:

+ = enlarge item under mouse
- = shrink item under mouse
arrow keys = move item under mouse
enter key = guide page
a = animate Posographe
s = snake

## Key features

- 1920s mechanical exposure calculator animation
- Illustrates mathematical principles
- Visual aids for understanding mechanics
- Historical photography technology exploration
- Keyboard controls for interaction

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/animated-antique-posographe/id1488545400/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Very niche, very amazing

*2025-02-22*

This app is a recreation of the posographe, an analog exposure computer from the 1920s. 

If you are a lover of photography history, or just clever design, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

The possibility to both use it as it was originally - or with various modern visualizations overlaid - is fantastic.
Solid work!

## Frequently asked questions about Animated Antique Posographe

### What is the Animated Antique Posographe?

The Animated Antique Posographe is a digital recreation of a 1920s mechanical device used by photographers to set exposure times. It animates the device and illustrates the mathematical principles behind its operation.

### What is the learning methodology of Animated Antique Posographe?

The app uses animated visualizations and mathematical illustrations to help users understand the mechanics and theory behind the Kaufmann Posographe. It focuses on visual exploration of the device's operation.

### How does Animated Antique Posographe track user progress?

This application does not feature formal progress tracking as it is an educational tool for exploring a historical device. Users can interact with the animation and explore its mathematical underpinnings at their own pace.

### Does Animated Antique Posographe offer certifications?

No, Animated Antique Posographe does not offer any certifications. It is designed as an educational tool to explore the mechanics and mathematics of a historical photographic device.

### What devices is Animated Antique Posographe available on?

Animated Antique Posographe is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed to run on Apple's mobile operating system.

### What is the age rating for Animated Antique Posographe?

Animated Antique Posographe has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children and adults alike, with no mature content.

### How often is Animated Antique Posographe updated?

Animated Antique Posographe was last updated on November 20, 2019, with version 1.50.42. The provided data does not indicate a frequent update schedule.

### What do users like about Animated Antique Posographe?

Based on the single rating, the app has received a perfect 5.0 stars. This suggests users appreciate its educational value and accurate representation of the historical device.

## Version history (last 1 release)

### 1.50.42 — 2019-11-20

No release notes.

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All apps by Ace Hoffman: https://appshunter.io/developer/704983956

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*