If you are among those who have already got a physical 3D photo taken of yourself or someone you love, you have already had a chance to appreciate the feeling of amazement and puzzled look on their faces when others see it for the first time and try to figure out what they are looking at.
The people at Hammacher Schlemmer, America’s longest running catalogue, must agree since they have placed the 3Personalized Bobblehead at the top of their Holiday Gift Guide 2014, along with two of the most consumer oriented 3D printing products: the 3Doodler, the World’s First 3D Printing Pen and the Cube 3 dual extruder desktop 3D printer by 3D Systems.
Both the pen and the printer will be available for purchase, with accessories, via the online catalogue. As an interesting aside, the original holiday gift guide from Hammacher Schlemmer was first published in 1848 as a means to present “the Best, the Only and the Unexpected”. Pricing is in line with the official US prices of $949 for the Cube 3 and $99 for the 3Doodler. The only “glitch” is the original Cube, probably leftover from last year, retailing for $1,300.
The Hammecher Schlemmer catalogue seeks to provide unique products that solve problems or represent the only one of their kind: it’s hard to get more “one-of-a-kind” than a Personalized Bobblehead and – along with other fun items such as The Talking and Dancing Disco Robot and the Portable Smartphone Photo Printer – it might make the perfect gift for someone who says they already have everything or want nothing.
Although the personalized Booblehead is not 3D printed in this instance, the concept is very similar to that offered through physical photography.
“The Holiday Gift Guide provides customers with a means for finding unconventional gifts—presents that are not easily found elsewhere,” explained Fred Berns, the company’s GM.
At the rate 3D printing and physical photography are developing and spreading worldwide, next year you might find a 3D printed copy of your entire family already in the shop window at Hammecher Schlemmer’s New York store or at any of the 3D printed selfie shops that are popping up all over the world.
