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.



https://archive.org/details/1967-jc-penneys-christmas-catalog/page/328/mode/1up