P3D Re: New Member sends greetings

[michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Michael Kersenbrock)]

> >the only way you can make your own viewmaster pics is by cutting
> >them with a machine that hasn't been made for forty years. Is this true?
> 
> If you use a View Master (or similar format) camera then you need the
> corresponding cutter to punch out the little film chips.  The cutters
> went out of production when the cameras did and equal numbers of both
> must have been made but they are more difficult (and expensive) to find

My understanding is that many fewer cutters were sold than cameras
because most people would just send the film in and get mounted
reels back -- like people do now with prints.

I heard this from a nice lady who used to do mounting for one of
the local (old, since sold out to a chain) camera shops.

This is why I didn't buy a viewmaster camera until I was
able to get a cutter for a good price first (actually I got
them together as a package deal).  The cameras are "everywhere",
cutters, not.

The Viewmaster Reel I took to my family reunion in Vegas a week
or two ago went over VERY well.  Mostly showed our girls (of the
feline variety) who didn't attend the reunion with us (well, 
and a pic of our house).   :-)

Took one of those cheap red plastic viewmaster viewers and let it
make the rounds w/o me having to watch and worry over a spendy
viewer.  And they knew how to "work" the unit  (heck, people
will hold a Realist Red-button up to the light!).

Mike K.


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