3-D at the Eastman House

[P3D Bill Davis <bd3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

In response to this recent inquiry regarding stereo stuff at the 
Eastman House:

>>From: P3D Tom Markantes  <mactombo@xxxxxxx>
Subject: (Q) 3-d in Int'l Museum of Photography in Rochester?

While preparing for a trip to Rochester, NY later this month, I noticed
a  photography museum on the map. Does anyone in the group know if 
there
are any 3-d related items there?

Tom Markantes<<

Yep, they have a few items on display.  I was just at the George 
Eastman House/ Int'l Museum of Photography and Film (Wow, what a 
mouthful!  Let's just say the Eastman House) this afternoon with 
Richard Twichell and Marty Abramson from the NSA '96 planning 
committee.  We attended a presentation by Jim Sucy, (a docent
there and a Kodak Ambassador) entitled "Two Eyes, Three Dimensions: A 
Brief History of Stereo Reproduction".   This was about a half hour 
slide presentation for the general public followed by a hands-on 
demonstration of various cameras and viewing systems, including 
Victorian (Holmes) stereoscopes, View-Master, Realist format, Loreo 
prints, lenticulars, random dot, anaglyph and over-under print pairs.

After the presentation, we toured the Mees Gallery, where a reasonably 
large collection (hundreds) of cameras and viewing systems are on 
semi-permanent display.  Included in the collection are a Kodak Stereo 
(1950's model), Realist and Stereo-Mikroma as well as a prototype 
"panoramic stereo" of rather unusual design. Also on display are 
several antique stereo cameras and viewers.

Touring the Eastman Mansion (attached to Museum and included in 
admission price), we came to the Discovery Room on the second floor.  
This room is only open on Saturday and Sunday, but among other things 
in this hands-on area it has an impressive selection of stereo views 
with stereoscopes (all card format) and they encourage you to use them. 
 There's even a sign "Cameras- Please Touch"!

Afterwards, we stopped at the gift shop and we found that they sell the 
Van Cort stereo viewer kits ($39.95, I believe).  These are basically 
Holmes stereoscopes in kit form.  The one on display seemed to offer 
good imaging, but I am not familiar enough with this format to offer a 
better critique.  Marty said that it suffers from having a hood too 
narrow for his glasses.  Also in the gift shop they sell T-shirts with
tinted reproductions of old pictures, mostly (if not all) of people 
using various Kodak cameras.  Lo and behold, they have a nice one of a 
turn-of-the-century lady holding one of the earlier Kodak Stereo 
cameras.  I'm wearing it now.

So, to answer the question, they do have some 3-d stuff there.  During 
the NSA convention, we will be touring as a private audience (they are 
normally closed Mondays, and are opening especially for the NSA) and we 
will be seeing some of the equipment not normally on display, including 
a stereo daguerrotype viewer that currently resides in "the vault".  
More details as they become available.

Normal hours are:
Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM; Sunday, 1-4:30 PM.
Admission is $6.50 for adults; $5 for seniors 60 and older and 
students; and $2.50 for children 5-12.  Children 4 and younger free.

The Eastman House is located at 900 East Avenue in Rochester.  Phone 
716-271- 3361.

Hope this is helpful.

Best Regards,
Bill Davis
NSA '96 Planning Committee




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