The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

JohnM picked up this stereo viewer in Mississippi with some phonographs (or radios?) pictured. Somehow it managed to survive Katrina but looks like it went through a beating.

Can anyone identify the origin of the viewer or the pictures?

John didn't have the ability to upload to the forum so asked me to post these for him. He'll probably add more about them!

Thanks for posting those, Bruce. I'm without Internet access for a few days again, and can't post photos from my phone.

This is obviously European. The remaining text on the lid is English, but the machines appear Continental to me, but I am by no means expert on European models. Any insights?

It looks like radios, because of the funnels. I have absolutely no idea of early radios, European or elsewhere.

Radios? Hmh. I can certainly see that now. Dang!

I have one of these. It is marked as made in Germany, and the pictures are printed in Germany, however there is an Oakland distributor listed on the envelopes for the pictures. I have several sets of pictures, and they are all of the Bay Area. I would guess that the pictures were taken in the late 1920s, judging by the automobiles. In general, the photos have an amateurish appearance and lack the photographic qualities associated with View Master photos as an example. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Oliver Enders himself was the photographer. I have attached some photos, one of which, appropriately enough, is in 3D. You will need red/blue glasses to see it in stereo.

Silvertone wrote: You will need red/blue glasses to see it in stereo.

That looks cool!
Did you do it with a modern stereo camera or computer software?

I used my iPhone and an app called 3D Camera. It creates the anaglyphic (red/blue) views automatically. It requires you to take two separate pictures, so it is only useful for still lifes.