Pan-Pet Panorama Stereo Viewers
Japan, 1970s & 1980s
Gakken created the Pan-Pet panorama stereo viewer in Japan in the late 60s/early 70s. The viewer, which used a unique system of panoramic stereo images on 35mm film, mirrors and a light diffuser located on the top of the viewer, went on to be created by multiple different companies in both Japan and China. The version made in China was called Super-View. Originally, the Gakken Pan-Pet was only a souvenir item at expositions — the first being the 1970 world’s fair in Osaka — and could only be purchased at those locations. Gakken applied for a patent in the United States in 1969 (US3649099A granted in 1972) and in Great Britain in 1970 (GB1284011A granted in 1972), both times listing Hideto Furuoka as the inventor. Various “exchange” films were made on topics ranging from trains and golf to nudes.
Gakken Pan-Pet Stereo Viewer
Japan, 1970s
Japan hosted its first world fair in Osaka in 1970 called Expo ’70 — the theme was Progress and Harmony for Mankind. Thanks to Gakken producing this plastic panoramic filmstrip viewer, we can see panoramic views of the fair in 3D. While all Pan-Pet viewers have the white string handle, only this first one for the Expo ‘70 has a blue body. All others are black. You’ll see at the very top of the instruction sheet that the patent was still pending in 1970.
One of the Pan-Pet boxes for the Expo shows a different design: a different model is used, the colors are different and there’s a Pan-Pet logo that’s not shown on other Pan-Pet packaging.
This early Expo 1 film spool is white — so far, all other film spools we’ve seen are black.
Two different Pan-Pet nude films.
Gakken Pan-Pet Stereo Viewer: Steam Locomotives
Japan, 1970s
Note the different packaging: a new see-through Pan-Pet box with cut-outs on the front for the lenses and a cut-out on top for the light diffuser. The sheet included provides descriptions of the steam locomotives shown on the film and, in the bottom right, lists additional Pan-Pet exchange films available.
Sanpuku Pan-Pet Stereo Viewer: Portopia ‘81 Expo
Japan, 1980s
The Pan-Pet viewer for the Portopia Expo in 1981 has a bright red label. The label lists Sanpuku Co, Ltd. as the manufacturer. The box graphics have also been completely redesigned for the Expo. By 1981, the Pan-Pet patent had already been granted but the instruction sheet still says “Pending” at the top.
Tokyo Shuei Co. Pan-Pet Stereo Viewer: Hakone Open-Air Museum
Japan, 1980s
The blue border on the label of this museum souvenir Pan-Pet gives it a bit more graphic flair than the other Pan-Pet viewers. It also indicates that it was made by Tokyo Shuei Co., Ltd. The box graphics are designed specifically for the Hakone Open-Air Museum.
