Re: VM must have!

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>If you're at all interested in VM, I strongly advise you to get one of
>George's viewers - you won't regret it.

Thanks Keith!  I am glad to hear that the viewers arrived safe and that you
liked them!

Keith is talking about the VM model D or focusing viewer.  This is the top
of the line VM viewer with unique features like focusing, glass 2-element
eyepieces, high magnification, bakelite housing, nice appearance and
placement of controls, convenient 2 D cell battery operation and optional
transformer operation.

A few weak points:  Dim when used with No. 14 or 245 bulbs.  Needs frequent
maintenance:  Dust and humidity settles between the two lenses of each
eyepiece.  Taking the lenses apart and cleaning them is a major operation. 
The lenses are OK but not as good as the achromatic lenses found in better
Realist-format viewers.  Price is high due to high demand and low supply.
When it was sold new, the price was only $6.50 (vs. $20 for the red-button
Realist viewer).  Today it usually sells for more than the red-button
viewer (in the $100-$140).

Basically, my contribution is to make sure that the viewer is clean (from
lenses to electrical contacts) and bright.  Older black-color viewers have
a metal reflector that has turned yellow by now.  I repaint this reflector.
I also install a new full-size back-reflector (sits behind the main
reflector and reflects light back increasing the overall illumination by
1/2 f-stop min.)  Also, I recommend a halogen 2.5V/0.8A.  This bulb is
taller than the regular bulbs and will not fit in most VM viewrers (it will
fit in the Chinese-set model).  I sell halogen bulbs that are shortened at
the top.  These will almost fit or will fit 100% with a little trimming of
the soft contact (I'll do that upon request).

Sorry, I do not have any viewers for sale...

...but I will be happy to work on your viewer and bring it up to spec.  I 
also have a book on the viewer (distributed also by Dalia) and have halogen
bulbs for sale...

A catalog is available in printed form... (I have to get up to speed now
with my new computer)

Regards -- George Themelis, fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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