Realist Al Mounts

[Paul S. Boyer <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

David W. Kesner:
I must have missed your initial soliciation of opinion on
Realist-format mount, or I would have sounded off, since I have
strong views on the subject.
The best Realist mounts, I strongly maintain, are the Realist
aluminum mounts made by them until about ten years ago.  The company
complained that they couldn't get the right kind of AL any more, but
others have asserted that their machinery was simply wearing out.
Their last run sold out very quickly.
A retired gentleman bought the machinery from Realist and went into
production in CA again, marketing the mounts under the trade-name
Sigma.  It sould have been Omega, because after a few runs, he, too,
has apparently given up.  It's a shame, because these mounts were the
best, and there is no equal substitute.
The mounts are of thin Al folded precisely so that the film chips fit
between folds at the top[ and bottom.  The chips are free to move
sideways for proper positioning, but Realist had learned that the
edge of the film was the most reliable guide in getting the two chips
level.  Once the film chips are in proper position (as determined by
a mounting guage and test viewing), it was possible to crimp the Al
so as to prevent movement of the chips - but that was seldom really
necessary.  I store most pictures just in the Al mounts, but for
projection or competition where handing is a problem, the best thing
is to place the mount between glass and hold it together as a
sandwich using Al frames, also thoughtfully sold in the past by
Realist.
So, what can you do?  Keep your eyes open for garage sales or other
sources of old collections of stereo slides, some of which may be
mounted in the "good" mounts.  If the pictures are worthless (in
other words, unlabeled, or of somebody's wedding), the mounts may be
scavenged.  Sometimes boxes of the good mounts (Realist or Sigma)
show up at camera shows, but they are very scarce now.  Then you can
just mope, knowing that the best, like that Macro-Realist you've
always wanted, is beyond your reach.
Who has the equipment for making these mounts?  As I mentioned, I've
heard that the stuff is in CA, which narrows the search just a
little.  Perhaps some young machinist would like to try rebuilding
the vital parts of the machinery for making these peerless mounts.
A further note: said mounts were never cut for 7-perf. Verascope
(Belplasca) format pictures, but this would have been possible.
There's another challenge for someone.
--Paul S. Boyer  <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


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