Metropolitan Syndicate Press published a series of full size stereoviews sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. as the "Metropolitan Series." They also published smaller views to go with the tin litho viewer for children shown here. Copyright 1905, these are single sided. Views with a later copyright of 1909 pictured on vintageviewers.com are double-sided—perhaps they realized they could save some money.

The company was established by Prosper Dalien Fenn in 1903. Fenn applied for a patent (US810401A) for a collapsable stereoscope, somewhat different from this one, in 1905.