Posted 2 months ago
dgirardin
(164 items)
Pick up this viewmaster does anybody know how to tell the model and what year it was made? I don't know how to tell if it's plastic or bake light
View master | ||
| View-Masters and Reels1 of 30 |  |  |
View master | ||
| View-Masters and Reels1 of 30 | | |
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Posted 2 months ago
dgirardin
(164 items)
Pick up this viewmaster does anybody know how to tell the model and what year it was made? I don't know how to tell if it's plastic or bake light
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dgirardin, the answers might be in the embossed information on the body of the View Master, but I'm afraid that your sole picture of it isn't sufficiently well-focused for me to read.
So you can tell by writing in the middle of the viewmaster
dgirardin, I really can't read any of the writing on the body of the View-Master, except the "VIEW-MASTER embossed across the top.
The writing in the area I think you're talking about looks like it starts with "MADE," but I make no guarantees.
The embossed writing at the bottom looks like it might contain some trademark and/or patent information.
Here's the original patent for the View-Master:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2189285A/en
Here's a follow on patent:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2511334A/en
Here are some View-Master resources:
https://www.vmresource.com/
https://www.viewmaster.co.uk/htm/quickref.asp
https://viewmasterinfo.com/
As to whether your View-Master is Bakelite, here are some tests:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/ways-to-identify-bakelite-148495
I have added a better picture to help figure this out. Thank you for all your help
dgirardin, Much better, thanks. :-)
The embossed information between the two eyepieces looks like:
MADE IN USA
SAWYER'S INC
PORTLAND ORE
About Sawyer's Inc.:
https://www.ohs.org/blog/ohs-view-master-collection.cfm
In the trademark and patent section at the bottom: the trademark is being a bit elusive. There are many View-Master trademarks, but finding one age-appropriate for your particular View-Master has been tough.
You'd think this one would be it, based on the image alone; however, it's too modern:
https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=78603443&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch
You'll note the two US patents I gave links for the other day. The British ones were stubborn, but I was able to find the Canadian ones:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/406893/summary.html?type=number_search&tabs1Index=tabs1_1
https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/471259/summary.html?type=number_search&tabs1Index=tabs1_1
https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/1336235/summary.html?query=VIEW-MASTER&type=basic_search
I also found German, French, and Swiss ones at espacenet dot com:
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/searchResults?submitted=true&locale=en_EP&DB=EPODOC&ST=advanced&TI=&AB=&PN=&AP=&PR=&PD=&PA=&IN=WILHELM+BILLER+GRUBER&CPC=&IC=&Submit=Search
Your View-Master appears to be the Model E:
*snip*
The Sawyers View-Master Model E (#2015) was produced between 1955 and 1961 and was the replacement for the Model C. It was made from bakelite. This viewer is very easy to find and was made by Sawyers in the USA, Belgium, France, India and Australia. Sawyers also manufactured a light attachment (#2051) for this model of viewer. It ran from two 'D' size batteries and worked very well although it was withdrawn from sale a year before the viewer went out of production.
*snip*
https://www.viewmaster.co.uk/htm/e.asp
So 1955-1961 vintage, and Bakelite body.
As to the View-Master 'reels,' here is a Worthpoint listing for that particular issue of "Bambi," which appears to have been a three disc set:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/bambi-view-master-1956-walt-disney-ft-4558872345
*snip*
BAMBI View-Master 1956 WALT DISNEY FT 42A, B, C 3 Reel Set with Booklet
*snip*
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/bambi-view-master-1956-walt-disney-ft-4558872345
Oops, bad editing (I gave the Worthpoint link twice).