UNCOMMON VIEW-MASTER STORAGE SYSTEMS

Carry Case for Model C Viewer

Here we have an uncommon carry case for a Model C viewer and reels, made for only a short time by View Master, Belgium. This case is made from a thick, plastic coated material which has the appearance of leather. It even has a grained effect to the outer covering.

The top folds neatly over the front and a catch holds it in place. You can then carry the case around by the handle. Inside there are 2 separate sections, one for a viewer and another for around 30 single reels.

When seen on its own it is difficult to tell it is a genuine View Master item as it is not marked in any way, but shown below is a scan from a View Master UK leaflet dated 1956 showing the item. Also, if you have one to hand, see page 222 of View Master Memories, by Mary Ann & Wolfgang Sell.

I think there is some ‘artistic licence’ with the drawing in the original advertisment, right, as it shows a divider as seen from the top. If this were the case then I don't think the viewer would fit inside!

The 3 examples of this case I have seen so far all have fixed dividers as per my photos above.

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Library Box, Disney Collector's Set
This item was sold as a ‘starter kit’ for kids and comprises of a viewer, plastic storage box (with a carry handle on top), a name and address label and two Disney subject blister packs. Available in either blue or red, the set was packages with only a lower half ‘box’, presumable so the box could be better seen than if it was hidden inside a standard box. This packaging was 9and is) very fragile, so not many survive in this condition today. View-Master collectors are likely to have to battle it out with Disney fanatics whenever one of these appears on the market.
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Library Box, Gold, Made in France

At first I didn't even think of giving this item a second look. Over the years I must have had dozens of these library boxes and apart from the common colours such as gold and maroon, plus the rare green version, the only other differences I have ever noticed are that some were stamped Made in the USA on the bottom while some others are marked Made in Belgium.

However, the other day I was sorting out some empty libray boxes and I grabbed this one. As it was a little dusty I started to clean it up and when I turned it over I had to give the bottom a double-take. It is clearly marked Made in France. I know that in the early 1950s Sawyers had a factory in France but untill this I can only remember seeing a French Model E viewer.
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Libary Box, Green

There is not really very much to say about this item, except that you don't often come across this all-green version. The most common colours are maroon or gold, both usually found with a cream top, with the all brown version (which I have never seen) by far the most uncommon (and expensive). Please note that the picture does not really do this item justice.
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Libary Albums

There are several different designs of the View-Master Library albums, two of which came complete with their own outer box. Inside there are thirty spiral-bound pages, each of which holds a single reel. These albums are getting more and more difficult to find in good condition, and even more difficult with their index pages still blank.
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Nations of the World Folder

Sometime around 1970, GAF produced a special album for their Nations of the World sets of View Master packs. Made in the Belgium factory, the album has a map of the world as its frontispiece, followed by 32 see-through pockets in which you store the packs. The cover and spine of this example are getting worn with age, but in 15 years of View Master collecting I have only ever seen three of these albums in the UK, and I have had two of those!  

 

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© Tim Goldsmith 2001
Last revised: June 18, 2005