Blue Ring/ Blue Back Reels
2nd Generation of View-Master Reels 1940-1941

The second generation reels commonly called "blue ring" reels were manufactured for only a short period of time between the latter part of 1940 and 1941. This second major reel design eliminated the adhesive gold foil label,  and the reel title, number, and captions, were printed directly on a buff-colored reel front. Reel labeling was both concentric and linear - see examples at right and below.  The linear labeling is very scarce. The reels have blue ink printing on the front, forming a ring and this is what gives the reel its descriptive name. The back of the reel is made of  blue stock and the front is tan (buff) and sometimes has a waxy orange color. The images were Kodachrome and today still retain much of their original color. All of our Blue Ring reels come with their appropriate blue sleeve and are in excellent condition.

Blue Ring/ Blue Back Reels
2nd Generation of View-Master Reels 1940-1941

Until recently, it was generally accepted that Blue Ring reels were only labeled with concentric lettering. However, this is not the case and the linear labeling is also found on Blue Ring Reels, albeit very hard to find.  Samples of both lettering types are shown below.

 

These reels were sold in a stiff cardboard dark blue and white sleeve. All of our reels come with the appropriate dark blue sleeve.