VIEWMASTER REELS VARIATIONS PAGE - CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOMED

From this side of the Pacific it seemed to me that there was no simple source of information to enable collectors to compare variations in similar ViewMaster reels. I have started a simple but comprehensive reference for variations whether they be different pictures on similarly numbered and/or dated reels, variation in size or placement of print, or the printed date or copyright notice, variations in the packs which are ostensibly the same generic type, variations in places of manufacture - anything in fact that is a variation as between outwardly similar Viewmaster products. This is a long term project and there is a lot of work for me to do as time permits. I need submissions to make this page of use to collectors, as I am only able to use my collection and the information from time to time to be found on the Net to expand the references. All contributors will be acknowledged - so help out by email to the address below, making sure that any information you provide is from your own knowledge and contains the basic information to fit into the table shown below.

The page is maintained and © by

Michael Levine

email: mle@netspace.net.au

Let me know if you stop by to have a look. I have a number of the items for swap or sale, and I am always looking to add to my collection of any ViewMaster or other 3D items. Please email me for further information or with swap lists.

KEY TO TABLE:-
*: Information not yet complete
A: Australia (with Viewer & Projector Arrows Printed on Reels)
Bn: Belgium (without Viewer & Projector Arrows Printed on Reels)
B: Belgium (with Viewer & Projector Arrows Printed on Reels)
Sn: Sawyers (without Viewer & Projector Arrows Printed on Reels)
S: Sawyers (with Viewer & Projector Arrows Printed on Reels)
Vn: Viewmaster (without Viewer & Projector Arrows Printed on Reels)
V: ViewMaster (with Viewer & Projector Arrows Printed on Reels)

S1,G1 etc: References to the recognised Packet codings

Note: Where Vn&V, Sn&S or Bn&B appears, the reels are listed to inform collectors that there are two different versions of the reel, the only difference being the Viewer & Projector Arrows on one and not the other.

Reel# Type Title Of Reel Date Variations
11 S Boulder Dam Nevada 1946 Date Variation with S
11 S Boulder Dam Nevada 1947 Date Variation with S
Title variation with V 1947
11 V Hoover (Boulder) Dam Nevada 1947 Title Variation with S 1947
16 Vn Bryce Canyon, Natl Park I, Utah 1948 Title Variation
Printing Variation Date above Sawyers
16 Vn Bryce Canyon, Natl Park, Utah I 1948 Title Variation
Printing Variation Date below Sawyers
17 Sn Bryce Canyon, Natl Park, Utah II nd Title & Date Variation with Vn
17 Sn Bryce Canyon, Natl Park II, Utah 1948 Title & Date Variation with Sn
26 V Grand Canyon Natl Park, Sth Rim 1948 *#2 Angel OR Tovar
#4 West from Moran Point OR North from Yavapai
26X A Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona nd Date Variation with B
26X B Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona 1948 Date Variation with A
27 Sn Grand Canyon Natl Park El Tovar to Yavani Point nd *Title Variation with Vn&V
#3 Hopi House
27 Vn Grand Canyon Natl Park, Sth Rim II nd *Title Variation with Sn
#3 Hopi Indian Dance
27 V Grand Canyon Natl Park, Sth Rim II nd *Title Variation with Sn
#3 Hopi Indian Dance OR Indian Dancers Hopi House
30 Sn Grand Canyon Natl Park, Bright Angel Trail nd *Date Variation with Vn & V
30 Vn&V Grand Canyon Natl Park, Bright Angel Trail 1948 *Date Variation with Sn
31 Sn Grand Canyon Arizona, Kaibab Trail nd *Date & Title Variation with Vn & V
31 Vn&V Grand Canyon Kaibab Trail, Arizona 1948 *Date & Title Variation with Sn
32 Sn Grand Canyon Natl Park Arizona, River Trail nd *Date & Title Variation with V
32 V Grand Canyon Natl Park Havasupailand 1948 *Date & Title Variation with Sn
41 Vn&V Grand Teton Natl Park I 1948 *No Differences Vn & V
42 V Grand Teton Natl Park II 1948 #2 Woman at Church Door OR No Woman and Door Open
46 Sn Glacier Natl Park Montana I nd *Date & Title Variation with Vn & V
46 Vn&V Glacier Natl Park I Montana 1948 *Date & Title Variation with Sn
48 Sn Glacier Natl Park Going to the Sun Highway nd *Date & Title Variation with Vn
48 Vn Glacier Natl Park II Going to the Sun Highway 1948 *Date & Title Variation with Sn
51 Sn Garden of the Gods Colorado nd *Date Variation with V
51 V Garden of the Gods Colorado 1949 *Date Variation with Sn
53 Sn Park of the Red Rocks Colorado nd Date Variation with Vn
#6 Ampitheatre OR Massive Rock Formation
53 Vn Park of the Red Rocks Colorado 1948 Date Variation with Sn
157 V New York City II USA 1950 #2 Lower Manhatten on both
#6 Bathing Beach at Coney Island much more space on sand with trash bin lower left OR crowded beach with 2 seated men lower left.
278 Vn&V Boston n/d #1 Old Statehouse on Vn OR Boston Skyline< on V/TH>
313 V Victoria & Vicinity British Columbia Canada 1950 #6 Vista From Malahat Drive OR Parliament Buildings By Night
317 V The Jasper Icefields Canadian Rockies Alberta Canada 1948 #5 Snowmobiles OR On the Abraska Tongue
980 V Garden Flowers Of Spring 1953 #1 labelled Azalea Mollis Type OR Azalea Hinodegiri but picture is identical
1210 B Highland Scenes Scotland 1956 #3 Loch Shiel & Prince Charles Monument with flowers in front (rarer) OR with tree in front
1301 V Killarney Ireland 1953 #7 Gap of Dunloe same pic as rarer #7 labelled Gap of Dunloe
1630 A Venice, Italy ~ #3 St Mark's from Piazza San Marco Distant View OR Close Up View (less common)
1635 B Island of Capri, Italy 1955 #3 Typical Street Anacapri OR The Cartusian Monastery
1608 B Florence Italy Belgium 1949 Reel is correct as labelled, OR all chips reversed and the following errors:-
#2 The Cathedral is Picture of David
#3 Courtyard of the Bargello Palace is Vecchio Bridge
Vecchio Bridge is Courtyard of the Bargello Palace
#7 David is view of Via Vecchio
#4 Square of the Holy Annunciation is "Neptune" at Piazza Della Signorina
"Neptune" at Piazza Della Signorina is Square of the Holy Annunciation
#5 "Neptune" at Piazza Della Signorina is Piazza St Florence & Florentine Abbey
2680 Bn Monaco & Monte Carlo 1953 same pics diff date from B
2680 B Monaco & Monte Carlo 1956 same pics diff date from Bn
2721 V St Peters Basilica Vatican State 1949 #5 words "St Peter" separated with a period OR no period
4307 V New Delhi India 1949 #3 - 7 can be different
A362 S5 Grand Canyon National Park, N.Rim, Kaibab Mule Trip n/d reel 1 different pics or in different order except #6 and detailed as such on back of pack.
The bottom flaps are different and on the pack, is a 1962 copyright reference to 800 titles, OR no date and the reference to over 1000 titles
B193 S6a Germany ~ #16 Heidelberg's Arched Bridge & Famous Castle distant view OR close up
B305 G3 Hans C Andersen’s Fairy Tales ~ packet front has purple background for "Classic Tales" but either purple or dark blue background for the rest of the packet
QEPX S1,B,S3 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 1953 There are two packet fronts - both are hand drawn with either a Cleric or a Royal on either side of the Queen. There are two packet rears with either a long 3/4 length flap and all yellow rear or a short normal envelope flap with a narrow yellow border on the perimeter of a white rear. There are two versions of reel 406 where picture 4 is labelled ' "Long Live Queen Elizabeth" ' with or without the words '(Non-stereo Picture)'. The Belgian packet is the short flap, brighter yellow perimeter, white rear, with a Royal front and a red rather than purple print. Reel 406 has the extra words. The reels were also released in an S3 full colour picture front packet with a Red B780 packet stamp with the extra words on reel 406

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Maintained and © by

Michael Levine

email: mle@netspace.net.au

v1.0draft: April 4 1996: v1.1 Variation Page - October 27 1996 (added counter)