The device itself hails from 1939. I do not know the date of the ad. 50s? 60s? Probably no earlier than 60’s per deduction from everett@lemmy.ml below.
It seems like the projector version, you would lose the 3D, wouldn’t you? Which is the whole point of a Viewmaster, for my money!
I like this ad style too.
We had a Viewmaster in the 60s, I loved it. We didn’t have story reels though, ours were all animals and scenery.
The scenery ones are cool though! Virtual travel to see far flung places, before the internet. Plus, you got to see it in 3D.