Guild 3-D Viewer

1955 Craftmen's Guild 3-D viewer with original box.

Even better than View-Master?

Vintage Bakelite Model B View-Master!

Now here's a treat for a Viewmaster hoarding weirdo like me...
An original Sawyers Model B viewer made of Bakelite, with the original box!

Learn more about the evolution of View-Master and you will be a better person.

The Pan-Pet

The final Viewmaster Blog isn't for a ViewMaster at all. It is for a Japanese Stereoscopic panorama viewer by Gakken Co. called the Pan-Pet.

The Pan-Pet used widescreen images on 35mm film on a reel-to-reel device that is kinda laborious to advance. The panoramic images (this one has the trippy architecture from Expo '70) are pretty cool. Made in 1969, this product never really caught on so only a handful of image reels were manufactured. 

Here is a picture I took looking through one of the little eye-holes with my camera:

Apparently they made a reel of artful nudes! Wish I had that one. Here is a scan of the film I found online:

And, of course, here is a link for more info and images on the Pan-Pet.

So, that's it for the big ViewMaster week here on Tales From The Junk Store.

The big, big Junk Pirate Art Exhibition opens tomorrow night. I've been staying up way past my bedtime trying to get everything put together. I've only taken breaks to eat and make these ViewMaster posts. More info here. Hope to see you there.

Viewmaster?

Check it out...

Here is a simple stereoscopic viewer. Is it made by Sawyers? GAF? Fisher Price? Nope.

It's some generic Chinese import knock-off faker. The viewing discs are just simple line drawings of animals. They aren't even 3D! I feel really, really sorry for the poor kid who wanted a Viewmaster and instead ends up with this migraine inducing impostor.

Today's Stereoscopic Linko: Let's see what Viewmaster Products are available on eBay right now!

Also, this:

Model D (and by 'D' I mean 'F')

What better way to follow-up a Model C than with a ViewMaster Model D Viewer!

It's the first illuminated viewer! Made of Bakelite and manufactured between 1955 and 1972, this viewer is heavy duty, but also prone to cracking and breaking apart (which I learned when I dropped it while taking these photos.

I somehow also managed to mangle the box pretty bad.

Order yours for over $200 here.

Notice: Over two years later and a friendly buccaroo in the comments correctly identified this as a Model F, not a Model D. Adjust your life plans accordingly.

And now for our link: Make your own custom ViewMaster Picture Disc Reels here!

Model C

Check this one out... a ViewMaster Model C, the classic baby boomer style manufactured from 1946 to 1955. It's made of Bakelite and was the first viewer to have a slot for easy loading of the 3D picture reels. Still works!

Today's 3D Link: More info on the Model C!

ViewMaster Collector's Case

I think it would be fair to label me as a "ViewMaster Collector", so a donation like this has my name written all over it.

The blue ViewMaster Collector's Case. Perfect for encasing your collection of Viewmaster products.

Of course, if your ViewMaster collection has exceeded two viewers and a handful viewing discs, you are going to need several of these cases. Then you would need a ViewMaster Collector's Case Collector's Case, to encase your collection of Collector's Cases.

While you wrap your brain around that, let's check in with today's ViewMaster link:
The Collectors Weekly webpage for View-Master collectibles.

Viewmasters... in 3D

A couple more here. A bluey with an orange trigger, and then a kinda bloated looking modern red guy. Plus a bonus translucent orange disc holder. 

Today's link: A USA Today article from 2004 about Viewmaster's 65th Anniversary!

Viewmasters - the collection begins

Just a quick picture of the early days of the Viewmaster collection. You might think that the two red ones are the same, but that would make you an idiot with no observation skills. Look at the bright orange pull-down lever... one has a concave grip and one is a ball!

We also have a blue guy, one of those vintage red-and-white two-toners, a black viewer, a contemporary "Builder Bob" promo piece, and a ultra-rare Bakelite brown boy. Each of these have specific Model identification letters, but right now I'm to busy to take the time to look it all up.

Also pictured here are a smattering of reels, a few vintage reel disc envelopes, and a plastic disc case. Looks like we're ready to have ourselves a Viewmaster party.

And now for today's Viewmaster link: A Glossary of Viewmaster Collecting Terminology

"I always considered the GAF Viewmaster an ingenius invention..."

The big Junk Pirate Found Art Exhibition is coming up in less than a fortnight, and I haven't even begun to assemble the collections for display. Once all is said and done I'll be posting the beautiful collections right here on this blog, but in the meantime I think it is about time to drop some of my favorites...
VIEWMASTERS!
Do you know they made 25 different models of the Viewmaster viewer since its inception in 1940. With all the color variations (and some exclusive foreign styles) there are likely over a hundred different viewers for you to donate to the junk store. Over 1.5 Billion viewing disc have been produced.
It is one of my favorite Junk Pirate collections, and will be proudly displayed (with a viewmaster reel lightbox (if I can figure out how to build it in time)) during the show.

So let's all wallow in our own greatness as spend the final countdown days to the big exhibition perusing several posts of the fantastic and hopefully ever growing Viewmaster collection.