Re: "Dr. T" & Realist

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

>I just want to relate my experience with 'DR. T' in
>buying a Realist from him.  The best way is to say it was the nicest
>experience I have ever had buying from an individual! 

Wow!  Thanks Rev. T.!
 
It's been a pleasure knowing you and I hope that you have as much fun 
with it as I had/have with mine!  "May every picture be a keeper"...
 
Just to prevent disappointments and anger (especially from those 
waiting for their stereo viewer for over a month now) let me clarify 
that I am only a dedicated hobbyist with very little free time between 
family and work and I do not sell stereo cameras.  I did get a few 
Realists which I will distribute in a first-ask-first-serve basis but 
I can only work on one or two cameras per week and viewers get 
priority.  If you want a Stereo Realist now, one that has been 
serviced and is sold with a warranty (and you are willing to pay the 
extra premium for this service) I recommend that you contact Dalia 
Miller.
 
The Stereo Realist was introduced in 1947 and it is the camera 
responsible for the "Realist format", and the 3-d explosion of the 
50s.  It is a classic rangefinder stereo camera made back when "made 
in the USA" was something to be proud of.  It is built like a tank 
with many desirable features like slow shutter speeds, parallax-free 
viewfinder, etc.  A good Realist is all that you need for an everyday 
stereo camera.  I could not do without it.
 
The price of the Realist 3.5 was $160 in the 50s.  Various methods of 
calculating a present-day value for this camera have brought this 
price to close or over $1000!  Looking at the overall construction and 
utility and comparison of the P&S cameras available today, I'd say 
that this camera is easily worth $500 or more.  You can thank demand 
(low) and supply (high) for the fact that you can still find it for 
sale at $100 or so.
 
130,000 Stereo Realist were made, out of 400,000 classic stereo 
cameras (Realists and Kodaks account for 2/3 of all stereo cameras).  
All 130,000 Realists are still around because, as we know, Stereo 
Realists do not die.  They just get passed from one generation to the 
next.  In the year 2100 we will all be history but the Realist will 
be still clicking and someone will be servicing them full-time.
 
Thanks again Rev. T.!
 
George Themelis, fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Cleveland OH USA.


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