P3D Re: Realist to VM

[Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 11:43 PM 4/6/99 -0400, Mike Canter wrote:
> I forget my history here: how 
>many times has the ViewMaster brand name and product line changed hands?

Well, there were at least Sawyer's, GAF, Tyco (independent), 
and Mattel (current owner).

>how many times has the tooling & manufacturing facilities actually moved?

The Viewmaster plant has been a few miles from my house here
in Beaverton, Oregon "forever" from what I hear.  Name printed on
the "famous" Viewmaster water-tower changes.   Things are being
distributed/moved with Mattel I think (incl. layoffs), not sure 
of the details.

>If it came up, I would probably bid on it.Ý This reminds me of the rumours 
>about Kodak selling off the Realist format mounting apparatus....

Be prepared to bring a semi to pick it up though (judging from
some 3D "movies" showing reels being assembled a zillion per second
sort of rates).  I think they'd move'm rather than rebuilding units
in the Shetland Islands (or wherever they might be moved to).  

I just hope the machines that make the personal reels never
breaks down ... somehow I suspect they might not pay the money
to fix it.

>But I maintain that we shouldn't have to resort to this level of technology 
>(unless, of course, somebody has already paid for it!).Ý I feel that a good 
>modern lab tech should be able to mimic the mass production/reproduction 
>techniques of the 1950's.

Seems improbable. The "target" for such production (if one wants 
to use conventional reels) is to end up with little funny shaped 
chips such that the stereo will work (and hopefully project able 
with the VM 500 projector).  Note that the VM reel isn't a thing
of the 50's per se.  They are being commercially made now,
and presumably will be next year two years, which will make
it a thing of the 21st century as well.  The point where
a Billion reels were made was a long time ago, so they
couldn't be made by means that aren't highly automated
(for the commercial reels).

Actually, it might be easier (for someone bent on not using 
VM cutters because the technology is too simple and old)
to use sheet film and generate a round disk to be covered by 
a reel-template for stiffness.  Not a cheap way of doing it, 
but certainly possible.

>
>And Mike K closes with:
>
>"Doesn't seem to be any reason to do all of this other than
>for challenge sake though."
>
>I thought (and forgive me if I'm wrong) that this topic was started by a 
>person who wants to reduce Realist format originals as VM format dupes for 
>wider distribution and accessibility.Ý 

If quantity is wanted (1,000 minimum) that person can go to 
Viewmaster and have them make 'em for a little under one dollar
each reel, and I recall someone saying that they can take 
realist slides.  I also understand this process can take
a while which makes it an unsuitable method for some folk.

If one wants just a few copies for giggles and grins, then
using some of the techniques posted would likely be the
easiest -- then punching them out with a punch.  I could do
it myself w/o much fuss or having to buy anything
(or have any special spendy tooling created).

Mike K.


P.S. - The punch to be used (of the two types) is the one matching
       the camera used.  Each of the two types of VM cameras produces 
       the chips oriented on the film differently so they cut
       differently.


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