Platinum Realist

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

Of interest to Realist camera users/collectors:

In the July 1960 issue of "The Stereogram" (the newsleter of the
Stereo division of PSA) I read:

"Beginning last year for the first time (the David White Co.)
contributed, through the PSA Stereo Division, an annual award
consisting of a genuine, working, platinum-plated Stereo Realist
camera, with the new rare earth lenses, to the maker of the top
stereo slide of the year... The platinum-plated Realist stereo
camera is trimmed in hald-tooled leather and engraved with the
name of the owner."

I asked Ron Fredrickson (currently the historian of the PSA Stereo
Division, who was kind enough to supply me with extra copies of
"The Stereogram") and he told me that 7 Platinum Realists were
awarded from 1959 to 1966.  He has tried to track those but without
success.  If one of those is located, it should be photographed
and documented. I cannot imagine what one of those is worth to
stereo collectors today...

George Themelis


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