Re: [photo-3d] New 3D'er

["David W. Kesner" <drdave@xxxxxxxxxx>]

John A. Rupkalvis writes:

> It also occurred to me, that this might make for a nice niche for a
> home business for someone who has the time

This is the real kicker - TIME. I consider myself to be a very 
fast mounter and it takes at least 30 minutes to mount a 28 
pair roll. That, of course is precision mounting using an RBT 
jig and spicer mounts. I do not think that using heat seal 
mounts would speed things up at all. In fact I never could get 
the hang of all that ironing *{;-)

So what is my (or your) time worth per hour? $5.00, $10.00, 
$20.00, more? How much would people be willing to pay for 
mounting a roll of film?

> Two levels of service could be offered at two different prices: a low
> cost cardboard (probably heat seal) mount for general purpose
> viewer-only applications,

There is no reason for poor quality mounting. Precision 
mounting can be done cheaply and effectively using Spicer 
cardboard mounts. The cost of the mount is about $0.10 each 
and the precision obtained is good enough for acceptance and 
honors in international stereo exhibitions.

> and a "custom" high quality precision pin
> registered mount for competition and salon projection applications.

If you are talking about using RBT mounts I just have to 
laugh. All it takes to mount in an RBT is cut the chips, place 
them on the pins, and adjust the window. What is so hard that 
someone would be willing to pay for that service?
  
> Kodak could always use some competition, and I don't know of any
> service for precision projection type mounting right now).

Ron Labbe for one is offering precision mounting in a variety 
of mounts from cardboard to RBT to aluminum and glass. Current 
prices on his site 
<http://www.studio3d.com/pages/slideservices.html> are $0.60 
each for heat seal, $2.50 each for RBT and $4.25 each for 
aluminum and glass (all in quanities of 10-36). I do not know 
if this includes shipping.
 
> Anyone else have any thoughts on this, or anyone who would like to do
> this?

I have done this in the past on a limited basis. I was 
charging $5.00 per roll for labor and cost on supplies. I 
offered to do a few rolls for anyone getting started just to 
show them how easy it was. Obviously I was not making any 
money as I liked to look and take my time so it was usually 
one to one and a half hours per roll.

I would be happy to make this service available, but I would 
have to charge as much as Ron. I do not think he is getting so 
much business that he can't handle it - at least he has not 
sent any overflow work my way *{;-)

So the service is available for anyone who has the money, but 
doesn't have the time or inclination. But for the life of me I 
still can't quite understand. It is so easy and rewarding to 
mount your own.

>From most of the discussion on this list in the past it seems 
like there are few of us like Dr. T. and myslef that shoot 
hundreds of rolls per year. Most seem to shoot dozens a year. 
At even one hour per roll, that is only one or two long 
weekend per year spent mounting. You probably spend more time 
mowing the lawn, shoveling the snow, or on the toilet *{;-)

That's all for now,

David W. Kesner
Boise, Idaho, USA
drdave@xxxxxxxxxx