Retro Rewind: ViewMaster

This week’s Retro Rewind delves into the original poor-mans virtual reality, the ViewMaster. The good old days of paper reels and plastic mechanical eyeware might be behind us, but we shall never forget the ViewMaster.

I remember quite vividly. The joy of looking through the different reels at my local Kmart. Filled with the anticipation that only a child can feel when they think their Mommies might just say yes this time and buy them that damn Racing reel you always wanted. But, Oh! The horror on our faces when our Mom said “Maybe next time”. Our little worlds were caving in from under us.

We all eventually forgave our mothers for this atrocity. Or at least we hope you have by now. But isn’t there still a small piece of you that would still jump at the chance to have that reel you always wanted? Regardless of the importance the actual reel would have on you now, the symbolism of youth doesn’t get any more blatant. Nowadays, non-battery powered viewing devices are more rare to find then one would think. Sometimes you just need a taste of the old classics. — Andrew Dobrow

ViewMaster [Wikipedia]