Drop a penny in the slot and the oil filled timer lights 2 bulbs for a set amount of time so you can view the live ants inside. It seems to be a bit of a prank from Mr Bryan to tease the punters into seeing a live peep show.

Not many of these floor-standing viewers survive, suggesting that not many were made. It was not a stereoscope, so perhaps it could not rival the success of the Peerless Pictures viewer.