Cleveland!

[Tim Smith <TSMITH@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Before leaving rural Massachusetts on a business trip last week I posted to 
Photo-3D that I was going to visit Cleveland and was looking for suggestions 
of things to do while in town.   In less than a few hours I received a most 
gracious invitation from Dr. George Themelis to visit his 3D world.  Soon 
after that message was received another Cleveland 3D+er, Jim Motley,  sent a 
message offering to coordinate the trip over to Dr. T+s.  After trading more 
emails and phone calls I found myself driving over  to Jim+s house to pick 
him up and then proceeded on to George+s house.  After Jim and I got 
aquatinted for a few minutes we loaded up four (heavy) bags of unknown goods 
(more on that later).  The more Jim and I talked along the way the more 
excited I got about learning more about 3D.

After arriving at Dr. T+s house some 30-35 minutes later I distinct pleasure 
of meeting what was attached to those "5000 fingers"  we all see on 
Photo-3D.  After a brief chat the Dr. got right down to business and gave me 
my first official stereoscopic test with a large, tabletop Keystone viewer. 
 The Dr., having a test paper in hand graded Jim and I for our ability to 
"see"...I might add we passed with flying colors!  Using the same viewer I 
began my 3D tour that would last for four hours!  Having a chance to see, 
touch and feel the items I+ve only read about was an experience that is 
difficult to put into words.  I almost feel like an expert now compared to 
what I knew before arriving in Cleveland!

At first I was overwhelmed...when George led Jim and I into the kitchen we 
saw that he had  staged a collection of Realist slides, cards, viewers and 
more gadgets that I+d ever seen in one spot!   I had a chance to see and 
compare the famous Dr. T+s new and improved Realist Red Button viewer, the 
Kodak viewers plus many I can+t remember including a large format viewer 
that was also quite spectacular.   After spending some two hours in the 
kitchen alone he says "OK...let+s head downstairs!"  I thought to myself, 
"there+s more"!?!.

The "downstairs tour" was even more exciting.  First Jim and I stop at the 
door and gaze at a row of Realist and Revere cameras line up in a bookcase. 
  George took the time to point out differences in the various models of the 
Realists while I tried my best not to drool all over them!  The tour 
continued into the downstairs workshop where everywhere there were viewers 
in various stages of repair, boxes of this and boxes of that!  The workshop 
was well equipped even down to the stereo microscope  for that extra special 
close-up work.  (George placed a hand file or rasp under the 
microscope....what a site in 3D!)

The tour continued to the another room (I said, "there+s even more"!?!). 
 This room, know as the "3D Hall of Fame" included quite an array of 
collectibles (even though George claims he doesn+t collect...he uses!)  :-) 
  This room was complimented with another Keystone viewer and the famous 
(NSA I think) trophy with a newly engraved "George Themelis" indicating the 
most recent winner in competition.   I got a kick though when Jim looked to 
me and smiled when he said how much less he paid for his Keystone viewer 
than George paid for his.

The last hour was the piece de resistance!  Jim and I were treated to a 3D 
slide show of some of the Dr.+s award winning slides.  What a site!  I was 
totally...I could not believe what my eyes were seeing...the projection 
quality was great and so realistic.  Stereo pictures of his family, still 
life, and a wide variety of assignment topics and experimentation.

After the slide show we began digging through the bottomless bags that Jim 
brought with him.   A cavalcade of stereo cameras, twin SLR rigs and all 
sorts of gadgets.   He must have had two or three twin SLR mounting 
arrangements and rigs.   Using George+s Viewmaster viewer we all clicked 
through several reels of shots he took around Cleveland and at Sea World. 
 Regretfully it was time to go.  My only regrets is that we stole George 
away from his family for entire evening.

After the evening at George+s was drawn to a close Jim and I loaded those 
heavy bags up and headed back to Cleveland.  By now is was 11PM and knowing 
that I had a 7:30AM flight the next day I still couldn+t resist Jim+s offer 
to come in and finish digging through those heavy bags I had been loading 
and unloading that night.  Heading towards the kitchen table (seems to be a 
favorite spot for 3Der+s) I had the pleasure of seeing and holding for the 
first time a mint TDC, not one but two Viewmaster cameras and a Revere (I 
think).  Jim graciously showed me many tip on some of the camera mods and 
special adapters he has hand made.  If it were not for the early flight the 
next day I think that we could have gone on for several more hours!

Now that you+ve been exposed to the "5000 fingers of Big Tim" (you see...it 
rubs off!) I+ll close by saying that Jim and George are some pretty special 
folks!  Thanks for an evening I+ll not soon forget.  Thanks George!  Thanks 
Jim!

Now as I sit here and look at my "bean splitter" images and I say to myself, 
"hummph"!  I+m ready for a Realist!

Tim Smith
Mattapoisett, MA


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