P3D NSA '98 - Business

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

We continue with DrT's convention impressions...

This year I did not have time to go around "shopping".  I only bought 
one Realist camera for resale and one viewer for myself (more later!). 
Also, a few of Boris' images.  So, for the first time I spent all my 
time "selling".  

The Trade show has always been the worst part of the convention for 
me.  Saturday I had to wake up at 6:30 am (just 4 hours sleep after 
our heavy beer-drinking evening) to be at the Trade Show at 7:00 am.  
For 10 straight hours I stood up, mostly talking to those who came to 
my table.  (Trying to promote the Realist and explaining the left 
button and bottom viewer finder "features" with Tom Deering ready to 
burst to laughter on the side :-))

Did not have time to eat, rest, walk around, attend workshops, see 
more shows. I spent all my time and energy to refuel in cash so I can 
turn around to hand it to Jon Golden (or somebody else later).  
Exchanging money.  That's what 3d has become for many amateurs who 
venture into reselling.  At least it is (financially speaking) better 
than just "spending money" but makes our hobby "hard work" instead of 
"fun"!

I brought with me half of my Realist camera stock (about 15), all my 
red buttons (7), plenty of books, light bulbs, power supplies and 
other items.  My new catalogs were gone within hours.  The Realist 
cameras and viewers were sold the first day.  I really did not expect 
that to happen and, if I knew, I would have brought all my Realists 
with me and all the viewers I have been accumulating in my basement.  
I was under the impression that people do not go to the conventions to 
buy a basic stereo camera.  I guess I was wrong.  Something to learn 
for next year.  On the other hand, the books, power supplies and other 
accessories did not sell well.

I heard stories about unused Realists with Seton Polarizers, macro 
Realists, interesting projectors, viewers, cameras, some good 
bargains, etc., but did not see anything.  All I saw was my table and 
Jon Golden's stuff (just because he was next to my room and table).

One interesting story:  John Roll asked me if I have heard of a 
"Norton" viewer which is a copy of the Realist red button.  The only 
Norton I know is a projector.  He took me to a dealer's table to check 
what turns out to be a Realist WHITE button with a person's name 
"Norton" professionally engraved between the lenses.  Now, if you read 
my book :-) you will learn that the white switch button on a "red 
button" viewer is a flag for a Realist viewer with SINGLE element 
lenses (not achromatic).  That's what this viewer was:  A Realist 
viewer with black case, white button, and single-element lenses (as 
was evident from the poor quality of the image).  According to the 
dealer this was a very rare viewer, made by some company "Norton", a 
good copy of the Realist red button, but with "much better" lenses.  
That's the most ridiculous story I have ever heard!  The price sticker 
was $165.  For this price one could have bought (while they lasted! 
:-)) a clean & bright DrT 8p Realist red button viewer with achromatic 
lenses, frosted halogen bulb, shrink-wrapped w/instructions!

George Themelis (in glad-the-trade-show-is-over mode!)


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