Underwood & Underwood

Underwood & Underwood

Underwood & Underwood was likely the largest and most innovative stereograph producer. Brothers Elmer and Bert started the company in 1897. It was sold to Keystone in 1921. They produced most of their views in boxed sets and had them on nearly every country and subject in the world. Millions of views were sold for education in schools.

Typical boxed sets by Underwood. The left set contains 100 views and has the companion travel guide with maps and plans booklet. Sets will be found in custom oak boxes in various sizes containing one or two viewers and up to 200 views. A file drawer cabinet was also sold. Each drawer held 100 views and contained multiples of 200 views up to the 1200 view cabinet which contained a bottom drawer for viewer storage.

Underwood Viewers

Early viewers were produced by H. C. White and will be found in the typical White varieties. This particular viewer in birdseye maple, is labeled "The Perfectscope" and has the Underwood logo in a semi circle. Not all viewers sold by Underwood will have a Underwood logo.

This Underwood made, standard aluminum hooded model has the "Sun Sculpture" Trademark, ca 1910, these are quite common.

The "Underwood Clip" and Underwood handle hinge. The clip has a shoe, shown at the top, which helped to keep the card holder straight on the slide. The hinge is dated 1871 and refers to a Lewis patent assigned to H. T. Anthony Company. Underwood must have purchased the patent rights from them.

A "Deluxe" Underwood viewer. Had an aluminum hood covered in black Morocco Leather and made with fine mahogany woods. This viewer sold for $3 in the Underwood 1912 catalog. Underwood viewers on stands are rare and the stand was pressed onto the standard handle hinge for adjustment.

The last and most unusual Underwood viewer made of aluminum is shown open and closed. - Patent #1197679 September 12, 1916. Though seldom found this viewer was sold for 5 years.

Underwood Sales

Underwood hired college age boys during the summer to canvass the country showing and taking orders for views and viewers. Often times these boys would stay with rural families as they passed through an area. I have found a rare set of four views showing a group of these boys. One of them must have carried a stereo camera with him and had the factory produce a few of the views. One of the views shows all five boys in a blacksmith shop using hammers and an anvil. One shows an unusual ring toss game and another shows one of the boys shaving.

This views shows the boys on the floor in an almost bare room. There are three Underwood salesman's cases and three viewers, one resting in the arm of the boy on the far left. There is one of the maps on the wall and four of the boys are reading travel guide books. The seated boy on the far let is either taking notes or writing an order.

Revised 4-2009