[photo-3d] Iloca Rapid models

["John Goodman" <jgood@xxxxxxxx>]

I recently acquired an example of the British market 
"Stereograms" version of the Iloca Rapid 2.8, and would really 
enjoy corresponding with Iloca Rapid users (off list would be 
fine).

Some time ago I received a "regular" Rapid, but the lenses were 
too moldy to use for shooting. FWIW, here are few of the 
differences I've noticed between the regular and British models. 
And although the Realist 45 was made by Iloca and has a Rapid 
type of body, it has neither the rangefinder nor the 2.8 lenses 
nor the Prontor shutter (with V, X, and M settings) that the 
Rapid 2.8 models have (as far as I can tell).

Regular				British

brown, fine-grained		black, coarser-grained
leatherette			leatherette

6 digit serial #		4 digit serial #
inside upper right		inside upper left

focus scale in meters	focus scale in feet

In Weiser's wonderful "Stereo Cameras Since 1930" book, some 
other differences between the Realist 45 and the Rapid are 
noticeable in the photos. Aside from the different logo 
engraving, the Realist 45 shows a focus scale in feet, the film 
type reminder wording is different, and the hot shoe has a 
raised nubbin contact, whereas the Rapid has a separate PC 
outlet. The "Carrying Strap Provision: none" entry for the Rapid 
2.8 in the book is a minor erratum, as the camera is pictured 
with strap lugs and both Rapid models I've handled have them.

I'm curious about the chip identification notch which, atypically, 
is on the left side of the camera. The left side is the left side, 
despite the uncommon right to left film path of the Rapid and 
Realist 45, correct? Since I like to cut chips with the images 
oriented to look like the scenes when shot, with a cutter that 
feeds from left to right, I imagine Iloca rolls will let me cut 
from first to last shot, not the other way round as with the 
other stereo cameras I've used.

John Goodman
jgood@xxxxxxxx