Did Ya Know?

The Viewmaster.... 

classic by its own standard!

William Gruber, an organ maker from Portland, Oregon, invented the View-Master. While visiting the Oregon Caves, he met Harold Graves, the president of Sawyer's, Inc. His company specialized in picture post cards. Together, they created the successful company that exists today.

In 1939, View-Master was first introduced at the New York World’s Fair. Intended as a souvenir, it was originally marketed through photo shops and stationary stores.

During World War II View-Master produced millions of reels for the U.S. Government that aided the military in airplane/ship identification and range estimation.

Many of the now classic TV “cult” shows of the 1960’s were depicted on View-Master reels. Dark Shadows, Lost in Space, The Munsters, Time Tunnel and The Green Hornet are eagerly sought after by collectors. 

 

COLORFORMS 

began in 1951 when Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, two art students, were experimenting with a flexible vinyl material as a low-cost alternative to paint. They discovered that the vinyl stuck to the semi-gloss paint in their bathroom! They cut shapes out of the material and placed them on the walls.

“Our friends would go in and do the most marvelous Matisse things on the wall. And they’d never come out,” Patricia Kislevitz said.