Greetings!

[P3D <StvnDJhnsn@xxxxxxx>]

Hello!

I'm new to this mailing list, but I've been involved in 3-D for about 7 years
now.

Boy this list is busy, I've been trying to jump in here for about three
weeks, but every time I check my mail I've got another 6 or 7 digests to read
through!

A little background/introduction on myself:
I started taking pictures semi-seriously in 4th grade. Set up my own darkroom
in 6th grade. Saved to buy an SLR in jr. high. Paid my way through high
school and college working in camera stores, and doing odd photo jobs. And
NEVER EVER heard of 3-D photography (other than stereo cards and viewmaster)
until a professor at U.C. San Diego (Standish Lawder) announced he was
teaching a "Stereo Photography" class. 
Ever since I've been hooked. I attended the convention in S.D. with my
fiancee (now my wife) and bought my first projector. (She enjoys stereo as
much as I do, and is my solution to the slide organization problem: while I'm
in the process of mounting, she double checks the mount and writes the place
and date on each one.)
I now have shot nothing but stereo for 5 years and my SLR is gathering dust
upon a shelf.
I've shot several weddings, and a couple events/parties with my Realist.  
I own 2 Realist 3.5's, two Kodaks and a Wirgin.(Poor orphaned cameras keep
calling my name at swap meets and antique stores) Kodaslide II, Realist Handi
and Brumberger viewers (none of which I paid more than $20 for). 116 & 718
projectors with selectron and trays.

My next acquisitions will hopefully be a Viewmaster camera and cutter, and a
Project-or-View.  Hopefully, I'll be going to Bellevue, and increase my
collection a bit.

My awareness of stereo photo, let alone my interest in, happened only because
one person was a stereo 'nut/buff'. 3-D will only exist as long as people who
are passionate about it continue to educate and enlighten individuals (not
necessarily the general public as a whole). If everyone on this list brought
two people into the hobby, and those two brought two (or four) and so on and
so on, the growth would be incredible. Anyway, enough pontificating. 

Some answers:
>Does anyone have experience using the Wirgin stereo camera?
>Anything special to look out for as far as optical or machinical problems?
 As has been said before, the biggest problem with Wirgin/Edixa's is not
advancing the film a full 5 perfs.  I've found that if you advance the lever
ALL the way, (don't do half winds), wind it all the way til it stops, you
shouldn't (not won't but in my experience, shouldn't have problems) Also make
sure the film is under the tab that presses the film sprockets against the
gear teeth.
Other than that, it seems to be a well made camera, and I was very pleased
with the optical quality.  I paid $60 for mine VG+, w/case, in the box w/
original instructions(box is fair). I don't use it much though, since I don't
trust the advance entirely (I sometimes forget to wind all the way), and its
a little bit big and awkward/cumbersome to hold.
BTW, does anyone happen to have extra Wirgin parts? The wind lever lightly
scratched, and wind lever screw is really badly scratched. Obviously the
previous owner had advance problems, but couldn't get the screw undone, (its
one of those screws with two holes) and scratched it up pretty badly.
 Everything else on it looks fresh from the factory and I'd love to have it
totally mint.  If you have one please let me know.

>anyone know how to sew up a leather camera case?
 Try taking the case to a shoe repair place. They should have the tools and
training necessary to sew it up right. You might have to do a little
searching to find one you'd trust or be willing to do it though.

On the topic of old film:
When I bought one of my Kodak cameras, it still had a roll of Kodachrome 64
in it. It was obviously old, since it had zebra stripes on the end caps.  I
took it to be processed since it was K14 type, but it turned out clear, no
edge numbers or i.d.

When I bought the Wirgin, it had a roll of Kodachrome. Its marked as Daylight
type K 135 in an all yellow cartridge, w/ "Film price does not include
processing" Any idea how old it is?

Well,Thats about all for now.

Steven D. Johnson


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