Fuzzy ViewMaster reels

[P3D Keith Wilson <100303.2573@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've just been putting checking and listing about 50 ViewMaster reels which I
recently bought, and I've noticed that a high percentage of them have images
which are fuzzy.  I've seen this problem before with other reels in my
collection, but the latest batch - white printed reels, predominantly of US
locations with copyright dates around late 40s to early 50s - seems to be
particularly badly affected.

Do other VM collectors see the same problem?  If so, can anyone give me guidance
on which reels are likely to be affected?  For example, is US production better
or worse than Belgian?  Does the problem affect reels produced at a particular
time, with newer/older reels being better?  

Finally, if I have a particular reel which is fuzzy, is it possible that sharp
versions exist, or was the problem in the original photography?  I have to say
that, in the few cases where I have two examples of the same reel, both either
seem to be bad or both good.  I've never yet found one good and one bad, but
then I don't have many duplicates.

One pointer might be that, in some cases, part of the image is sharper than the
rest.  It just might be lack of depth-of-field at the taking stage, but it could
also be that the original wasn't held flat when the reels were duplicated.  Any
guesses?

Just in case anyone was thinking I might have a problem with my viewer, I'm sure
that I don't, for the following reasons:

1.  It's a Model D which has received the full Dr T treatment.  Probably I don't
need to say more, but I will anyway :-)

2.  Even in the fuzzy pics, the grain is sharp

3.  I have many reels which are sharp throughout.

I've been on the list for over a year, but I've never seen this topic discussed.
Am I the only one to suffer, or does everyone else already know the answers?

Thanks in advance,

Keith Wilson, in the cold grey UK


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