2-Reel Viewmaster Packets, 1956

I was inspired by Matterhorn1959's "Souvenir Fridays", so I thought I would take a crack at it once in a while (I hope you don't mind me ripping you off, Matterhorn!). My collection can't hold a candle to his, but I have a few interesting items to share with you on occasion. For a year or two I was an avid collector of Viewmaster packets, and of course the Disneyland packs were especially desirable. It's amazing how much there is to learn about something as seemingly simple as Viewmasters! S-3 packets, S-4, souvenir packets, "swing-out" packets, "R" reels, "D" reels, and so on. Besides trying to get all of the various packet styles, there are variations within those. It's really pretty nutty!

I had been aware of the rare 2-reel packets, and at one time was outbid on a set on ebay for a staggering amount. Luckily I found an complete set years later for a tiny fraction of that price. These are particularly rare, much harder to find than the swing-out packets or souvenir packets. In my opinion they are among the most attractive packet styles, but I guess that their less compact shape made them unpopular. Besides, who wants 2 reels when you can buy the more-common 3-reel packets!

Some of the reels have a few unique images, which is always fun. Viewmaster packets offer a unique opportunity to see the park in glorious 3-D and full Kodachrome color...which is especially cool in these early photos!