Difference between revisions of "Sawyer's"

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Originally a manufacturer of picture postcards, Sawyer's Inc. became the original manufacturer of the View-Master line of products.
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|image_text= Stereo viewer and reels
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Originally a manufacturer of picture postcards, '''Sawyer's''' Inc. (of Portland, Oregon, USA) is best known as the original manufacturer of the '''View-Master''' line of products. The View-Master or Sawyer's names appeared on a modest number of cameras, as well.
  
 
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== History ==
 
== History ==
  
View-Master was invented in 1939 by William Gruber as a way to update the Holmes stereoscopic viewer.  Where the Holmes stereoscope was limited to one card at a time and could have outside distractions, the [[View-Master]] stereoscope uses reels that contain seven stereo pairs per reel and was enclosed, immersing the viewer into the scene more than any other previous stereoscope.
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The View-Master system was invented in 1939 by William Gruber as a way to update the Holmes stereoscopic viewer.  The Holmes stereoscope was limited to one card at a time, and only partially blocked the user's peripheral vision. The [[View-Master]] stereoscope used disk-shaped "reels" containing seven stereo pairs each, and its individual eyepieces immersed the viewer into the scene more fully than previous stereoscopes. The molded plastic (originally [[bakelite]]) viewer evolved through several styles over the decades it has been produced.
  
The View-Master premiered at the 1939 World's Fair and was an instant success, partially due to its use of the [[Kodachrome]] [[slide film]].
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The View-Master premiered at the 1939 World's Fair and was an instant success, partially due to its use of [[Kodachrome|Kodachrome slide film]] for vivid color images.
  
Its popularity eventually lead to the creation of the [[View-Master Personal Camera]] in 1952.  Selling for around $180, anybody could make their own personal reels to be viewed on any View-Master stereoscope.
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Its popularity eventually lead to the creation of the [[View-Master Personal]] camera in 1952, made by Stereocraft Engineering Company.  Selling for $149, anybody could make their own personal reels to be viewed on any View-Master stereoscope.
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Sawyer's Europe commissioned the manufacturer of [[Regula]] cameras, [[King]], to produce the unsual [[Sawyers View-Master Stereo Color Camera |View-Master Stereo Color Camera]].
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/15043613310/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5596/15043613310_4818ce0a14.jpg
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|image_text= The two View-Master stereo cameras
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|image_by= Geoff Harrisson
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In 1966, Sawyer's was bought by the General Aniline and Film (GAF) Corporation.  GAF changed many of the practices of View-Master.  These include:
 
In 1966, Sawyer's was bought by the General Aniline and Film (GAF) Corporation.  GAF changed many of the practices of View-Master.  These include:
  
 
* A shift in focus from photographic subjects, such as scenics, to children's subjects, such as TV and movies.
 
* A shift in focus from photographic subjects, such as scenics, to children's subjects, such as TV and movies.
* [[E6]] [[slide film]] replaced the Kodachrome, thus many reels of the 1970s now have faded colors, unlike the Kodachrome reels.
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* [[E-6|E-6 slide film]] replaced the Kodachrome, thus many reels of the 1970s now have faded colors, unlike the Kodachrome reels.
  
 
Today, View-Master is owned by Hasbro, under the Fisher-Price label.
 
Today, View-Master is owned by Hasbro, under the Fisher-Price label.
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=== Other Products ===
 
=== Other Products ===
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* Monoscopic cameras
 
* Monoscopic cameras
 
* Sing-Along Videos
 
* Sing-Along Videos
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* the [[Primo Jr|Sawyer's Mark IV]] 4×4 TLR, rebadged version of the [[Primo Jr]] by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]]
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* Sawyer's [[Nomad 127]] - [[Bakelite]] [[127  film]] still camera. A [[620 film]] version was also made.
  
 
== External Links ==
 
== External Links ==
  
* [http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~number6/vm/ The View-Master Ultimate Reel List]
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* [http://www.3dstereo.com/Viewmaster-URL/ The View-Master Ultimate Reel List]
 
* [http://www.vmresource.com The View Master Resource]
 
* [http://www.vmresource.com The View Master Resource]
 
* [http://www.viewmaster.co.uk 20th Century Stereo Viewers]
 
* [http://www.viewmaster.co.uk 20th Century Stereo Viewers]
 
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/visionneuses/html/viewmaster.php View Master viewers] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste9_imagettes.php#Sawyers Cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr (in French)
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* [https://sites.google.com/site/harrissonphotographica/home/view-master-stereo-cameras View-Master cameras] article by Geoff Harrisson
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* [https://internoinbakelite.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/video-tutorial-obsoleto/ View-Master system video tutorial] on [https://internoinbakelite.wordpress.com Interno in bakelite]
 
[[Category: Camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Camera makers]]
 
[[Category: USA]]
 
[[Category: USA]]

Latest revision as of 04:41, 31 July 2020

Originally a manufacturer of picture postcards, Sawyer's Inc. (of Portland, Oregon, USA) is best known as the original manufacturer of the View-Master line of products. The View-Master or Sawyer's names appeared on a modest number of cameras, as well.

History

The View-Master system was invented in 1939 by William Gruber as a way to update the Holmes stereoscopic viewer. The Holmes stereoscope was limited to one card at a time, and only partially blocked the user's peripheral vision. The View-Master stereoscope used disk-shaped "reels" containing seven stereo pairs each, and its individual eyepieces immersed the viewer into the scene more fully than previous stereoscopes. The molded plastic (originally bakelite) viewer evolved through several styles over the decades it has been produced.

The View-Master premiered at the 1939 World's Fair and was an instant success, partially due to its use of Kodachrome slide film for vivid color images.

Its popularity eventually lead to the creation of the View-Master Personal camera in 1952, made by Stereocraft Engineering Company. Selling for $149, anybody could make their own personal reels to be viewed on any View-Master stereoscope.

Sawyer's Europe commissioned the manufacturer of Regula cameras, King, to produce the unsual View-Master Stereo Color Camera.

In 1966, Sawyer's was bought by the General Aniline and Film (GAF) Corporation. GAF changed many of the practices of View-Master. These include:

  • A shift in focus from photographic subjects, such as scenics, to children's subjects, such as TV and movies.
  • E-6 slide film replaced the Kodachrome, thus many reels of the 1970s now have faded colors, unlike the Kodachrome reels.

Today, View-Master is owned by Hasbro, under the Fisher-Price label.


Other Products

Other film and camera products that have carried the Sawyer's and/or View-Master name include:

External Links