The David White Company

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

I received a catalog at work that includes a few surveying equipment
(Levels/Transits, laser levels, etc.) made by the "David White" company. 
This is, of course, the same company that introduced the Stereo Realist
camera in 1947.  The company is still in business and Ron Zakowski, the
famous Realist repairman, is still working for them (I hear he is retiring
in June).

So, what's so special about it?  Kodak is still around too.  The difference
is that the David White company was always a company making surveying
precision instruments and not cameras or photographic equipment.  According
to info in the "Stereo Realist Manual" book and Rochwite Seton's interview
in 1988 in Stereo World by Mark Wilke, Seton approached David White in
1942 with a prototype for a stereo camera using the new 35 mm color slide
film (Kodachrome).  Seton was actually looking for a job, or he had no
business showing a camera prototype to a survey equipment manufacturer. 

The David White management liked the camera and did a market survey to
measure the public interest for such product.  The results were negative. 
Not much interest.  Despite this, David White Co. decided to go ahead and
spent 5 years developing the system.  The Stereo Realist was introduced in
1947 and we all know what kind of impression it had to the public.  Bob
Howard told us about the crowds in line to trade their Leicas for a
Realist. From 1947 to 1952 the Realist dominated the market.   Sales of the
Stereo Realist went from something like 10% to 80% of the total sales for
the David White company, which at the peak of the stereo market changed its
name to Realist Inc.

After 1952 several other cameras entered the market, most lower priced, and
took a bite out of Realist's sales.  To top them all, the Kodak Stereo was
introduced in 1955 and managed to sell almost as many cameras as the
Realist in a market that was already declining.  Sales dropped for the 
Realist and the company changed back the name to David White Co. and 
eventually closed the stereo camera department (when did that happen?)  Ron
bought most of their spare parts and repair equipment (unlike Kodak; what 
happened to their spare parts?)

Apparently, the David White company is still around, doing what it was
always doing, dealing with surveying instruments.  I have seen a stereo
slide by Mark Wilke, standing in front of the company's offices in
(around?) Milwaukee.

-- Historical flashback brought to you by George Themelis 

(note: the above were written out of memory and may contain errors;
corrections and additions are welcome)


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