Prof. Weiser's Stereo Camera Book

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

I received the book: "Stereo Cameras Since 1930" by Prof. Werner Weiser in 
Germany.  This is an excellent documentation of 69 stereo cameras built 
since 1930.  All technical features are described in detail.  Each camera 
is shown in 3 photographs (front, top, back).

This book was first published as "Stereokameras Von 1940 Bis 1984" in the 
German language in 1985.  The English version that I received came in a 
handsome softcover volume published in 1988.  Price is DM 50 (plus DM 12 
airmail in Europe and US.)  It can be ordered prepaid from the author:  
Dr. Werner Weiser, Siegelberg 57, 5600 Wuppertal 23, Germany

Under Edixa Stereo I found three models (IA, IIA and IIIA).  These are 
made by the company Kamerawerke Gebruder Wirgin and all have "Wirgin" at 
the top.  Introduced around 1954 sold a total of about 20,000 cameras.

Under Iloca Stereo I found 3 cameras:  Iloca Stereo (1st version, 1950) 
with uncoupled diaphragms, 2nd version with coupled diaphragms (1951, 
that's the one I have) and Iloca Stereo II (1954, this is Realist 5p 
format, the other two are European 7p format).

Under Realist there are 4 models:  3.5 (model 1041, 1947), 2.8 (1042, 
1951), Custom (1050, 1960), Macro (1060, 1971) and Realist 45 (1955, 
anyone knows what possessed Realist to introduce this model???)

I compiled statistics on the year of introduction of the cameras in the 
book.  The oldest "50s" cameras are the Verascope (1946), Realist (1947) 
and Wollensak (1950).  Then there is a small gap and then the explosion in 
years 1953-1955 with 24 stereo cameras introduced in those years, including 
the Revere (1953), and Kodak and TDC Vivid (1954).  These three years must 
have been the golden years of stereo photography.  After 1955 comes 
saturation (no new models introduced) and collapse (stereo cameras going 
out of production).  

George Themelis


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