P3D Re: Stereo Camera Sightings

[bobsmike@xxxxxxxxx (Mike Chew)]

A friend of mine got started in stereo photography when he stumbled upon
a Kodak stereo camera at a garage sale.  He had never seen a stereo
camera before, but he was attracted to the novelty of two lenses,  He
asked how much for the camera and was told, "$3.00."  This was back
around 1984.  He said, "Does it work?" after being informed the camera
took 3d pictures.  The owner didn't know, so my friend counteroffered,
"How about $2?" SOLD!

The camera did not have any instructions, so my friend wrote Kodak
describing the camera to them.  They responded by sending him a nice
xerox of the original instructions booklet without charge.

There was a photofinishing business (now defunct) around the  corner
from his apartment building called Fotomat.  They offered stereo
processing and cardboard mounting, so my friend started shooting right
away.

I'm not sure how or when he got his first viewer, but I know he has
found one Life-Like and 2 Brumberger viewers over the years at flea
markets/garage sales.  Knowing him, he probably purchased them for less
than $5 apiece.

He was never shy about showing off his stereo slides, even with the
exposures way off.  On one occasion, an acquaintance mentioned he
thought he had a stereo viewer at home
collecting dust.  Gave it to my friend as a gift, because it wasn't
being used.  It had belonged to his late father.  It was a Revere.  

Anyway, this happy-go-lucky guy used to make his living as a street
musician at the cable car turnaround in San Francisco's Fishermen's
Wharf. On three occasions, he spotted tourists with Realists. And I
ended with a Brumberger as a gift to get me started.

Mike Chew


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