As a longtime View-Master collector, it’s been my wish that we could return to the glory days of View-Master production with numerous new releases a year — or at least the middling days of the early 2000s when there were a few new titles to be had each holiday season!
Well, for the first time in ages, there’s a new product we can actually buy! It’s a reissue of the classic Mickey Mouse Viewer, first issued in late 1989.
The brightly painted Mickey face was attached to either a US Model L viewer or a Belgian Model J viewer, depending on the market.
I have a US version on an office bookshelf:
One of the challenges of buying these viewers used is that the paint easily scratched off, so finding one in pristine condition is difficult. But now you can have your own!
Buy it here to support new View-Master product releases, and help make my collecting dreams come true!
This reissue is in honor of Disney’s 100th anniversary! I’ve already got my tickets to the anniversary show and I’m pretty excited to see the collection on display.
I don’t have this View-Master set yet (crazy, I know), but it appears to include a reissue of three old Mickey reels. From what I can tell the reels are:
Mickey’s Birthday
Likely a reissue of the 1994 Mickey Mouse Birthday Surprise blisterpack with stereo drawings
Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice
A reissue from the 1978 packet, Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse (J29)
Steamboat Willie
To my knowledge, this reel has only been issued in the late 1980s to coincide with Mickey’s 60th birthday.
I would say all three of these reels are tricky to find in the wild and especially tricky to find in excellent quality. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was issued at a time when reel color faded quickly. I’ll be excited to see how this new set looks in person.
I’m especially happy they included the Sorcerer’s Apprentice since is was created for View-Master by Joe Liptak, an artist responsible for so many classic View-Master Disney sets! It’s one of the last diorama/clay figure reels he created.
Listen, I’m not saying that if you buy this set, I (WE) will get reissues of other, more niche reels BUT THAT IS ALSO WHAT I AM SAYING! Heh.
Taylor Swift has a custom View-Master for sale on her website as part of her 1989 album re-release! I’ve already ordered mine! I’m also a Swiftie, so this is a nice crossover item microtargeting me in particular! Buy one for the Swiftie in your life and share the View-Master love!
One more thing: In addition to the repair tools I linked in this post about How to Repair a View-Master Packet, I’ve gotten some questions about how I store my reels!
I use vintage storage for all single reels. However, these bakelite boxes do not fit the packets, which is the area of focus of most collections.
For packets, I have long used the Sterilite Medium Clip Clear Storage Box.
You can buy them singly or in multiples!
Please note this posts includes Amazon affiliate links! I may get a teeny tiny Amazon gift card in 2042 if you use these links to buy stuff today!
I’m in! Ordering mine so I can experience virtual reality the way God made it.
I purchased the Taylor Swift Viewmaster, but the Micky Mouse link didn't work.