View-Master 3-D Viewer - A Guide to View Master

The View-Master, a device for viewing images in 3-D, was introduced in 1939 and has become a favorite with collectors since.  The View-Master takes advantage of something known as stereoscopic photography. When someone looks through a View-Master projector , he or she is actually seeing two slightly different slides; the result appears to the eye as a single image with depth. 

In the beginning, View-Masters were primarily used to show viewers the scenic wonders of the world, such as the World's Fair in New York (where the View-Master was introduced), the Grand Canyon, or scenic spots in Europe.  Consumers could purchase reels, each one containing 14 slides that produced seven 3-D images.  Collectors and fans of the View-Master often like to purchase some of the reels made early in the View-Master's history. 

From its origins as an introduction to breathtaking scenery, the View-Master has undergone an evolutionary journey, and over the years a number of different companies have owned the rights to produce this unique item.  By the 1950s, View-Master reels had begun encompassing more subjects, including Disney characters and themes.  More and more reels targeted specifically for children began to be produced.  Now the View-Master is sold as a Fisher-Price toy.

Because the View-Master has proven popular with collectors (and earned a spot in the National Toy Hall of Fame), books have been written that attempt to lay out the history of the various reels.  One popular theme for some collectors is movie and TV related reels, of which many were produced.  There are also websites and other resources devoted to the View-Master that can introduce a budding collector to the wonders of this unique toy.