[2] The company's contribution to the development of magic lanterns was significant and Philip Carpenter pioneered the use of copperplate slides.

Carpenter's expertise in optics allowed him to be a significant figure in the development of other devices and the company would become well known for a variety of products.

He made instruments for various opticians including John Benjamin Dancer who would for a time help to make some for Carpenter's company.

Realising that the company could not meet this level of demand Brewster requested permission from Carpenter on 17 May 1818 for the device to be made by other manufacturers, to which he agreed.

[4] To accompany the slide sets Carpenter produced detailed notes in script form allowing presenters to show the images while running through a prescribed text.