Re: TDC Carriers & more

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Harry Poster writes:

>On the TDC "VIVID", the TDC 116, and 116A, the standard aluminum carrier
>had two CHANNELS. The Realist/Kodak slide dropped into the front; a 
>double 2x2 mounted in cardboard, metal or glass goes into the back 
>channel. On the TDC DeLuxe 716/716A, the new stainless steel carrier 
>had a single channel which took the Realist slide (this was masked down
>so that it does not show 7-perf slides). 

Let me add the following:  TDC stands for Three Dimesion Company (in 
case anyone wondered).  In the standard model TDC 116 there are two 
kinds of carriers.  The OLDER carrier had the two cannels, does not 
lock in place and the apertures are wide enough for 7-p.  That's the 
carrier that Rick and I have.  You can take it apart to clean it and 
lightly lubricate.  With a little practice (I always apply a slight 
pressure at the top when changing slides) you can move the slides 
manually without any projector movement.

The NEWER carrier had only one channel, locks in place, and it is not
wide enough for 7-p.  (I have heard reports from people widening the
apertures with a file).  This carrier also has the slide pushing
thing that allows you to push the last slide out.  The construction
is better in this carrier especially for unexperienced users.

Reel 3-d used to sell full-frame cardboard slide mounts which would
not fit the Realist format viewers but would fit the Radex 
Binocularscope viewers (I hear Allan Carrano has a good stock of
those ;)) AND the back channel of the older TDC carrier.  These 
mounts are not available anymore.  Your best (only?) choice for 
full-frame mounts are the RBT mounts.  I do not know if they will 
project well in the front channel of the older TDC or in the new one.

Earl Krause who wrote the "3 Dimensional Projection" book (good 
quality copies available from Dalia) also worked for the TDC
company, hence the similarities between the TDC projector manual
and Krause's book.

I have in my files an older "Manual of Instructions for the Stereo
Vivid Projector" which was written for the earlier model. It is
written with a typewritter (no figures or schematics) and, among
general information about stereo photography ("Always use the
smallest lens stop possible") it says the following about the
carrier: "The exclusive slide carrier design permits showing
Stereo Realist Slides, 1 5/8" x 4" in the front compartment of
changer and standard 2" x 4 1/2" stereo slides or 2" x 2" slides
in the rear compartment".

Also from the same manual: "Your TDC STEREO VIVID projector is
a fine, scientific optical instrument".

>Oh, just to do a bit of advertising, I do have NEW, re-made 
>116 carriers (much better than the originals) at $145 each, 

I saw those and they look great.

>and single 2x2 (mono) carriers for the P-or-V and the DeLuxe 
>projectors, at 2 for $11.

What a bargain!  Put me down for a pair of those Harry!

George Themelis


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