Re: PHOTO-3D digest 1449

[P3D Bob Howard <bobh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

RE: Realist mounting and 3d demise! Dr. T & Greg comments on theory.

I am a survivor of the period and took my first Kodachrome Stereo at 
least 50 years ago in 1946, with a Stereo Tach (Advertising Displays of 
Covington KY). Remounted into Realist mounts I still have those images.
I of course got a Stereo Realist at the first opportunity. As did many 
of my friends who abandoeed their Leicas etc. There was no problem at 
all with Kodak mounting in cardboard mounts for view use. Also using the 
Realist mounting kit (heat and thermal mounts) everything was OK. Only 
complaint was occasional dust in Kodak lacquer (which we called Kodak 
bullets as we tried to dig them out). The heat sealing and cloth binding 
tape proved to be unreliable in the end as the film chips could pop off 
later. And taped slides stuck together if stacked. So Realist slip in 
aluminum frames and new mounting kit were welcomed. Projection of course 
brought this on as needed alignment to higher precision. None of my 
friends ever had a problem mounting, which we prefered to do with all 
good slides to get them in glass to allow handling when viewing.
I think the theory is all wet as to mounting being the cause of demise, 
as few projected. I had projector with the various metal screens 
including the stretch one and the Kodak lumier or whatever it was called 
for high brightness. Used it for club and group showing of my slides, 
but later abandoned projection as inferior to viewer for home use and 
just keep lots of viewers for visitors so each gets his own. 
I think the demise of stereo happens with the discovery of each 
generation and the waning as the novelty wears off. (33 year cycle).
Each rebirth is with often new techology..Victorian after dry plate,
1910 era with small plate cameras that led to roll film Rolliscop, 1940 
with 35mm color (that didn't market until postwar, but was started by 
B&H TDC division for 1939-40 World's Fair in NYC.) Fortunately Realist 
was picked up by David White and beat out the B&H group even earlier.
Sawyers of course gets credit for mass market Viewmaster education of 
the public. Since a big slice of the public could be accused of not 
seeing color or hearing sound with any discernment, I suppose it is too 
much to think they would appreciate 3d for long. BobH


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