Before I started to clean up the Cine Simplex camera, I took some time to clean and service John Hora’s Mitchell Mark II. Like much of the equipment John collected, this camera has been tweaked and modified to meet his exacting standards. This camera features a Cinema Products BNCR hard front (modified from the original factory 3 lens turret), as well as a Cinema Products black and white video tap, a Cinema Products XR-35 1000’ displacement magazine, and a Fries Engineering high speed motor. One addition to this camera leaves me with a lingering question, however.
The camera also includes a unique bridge plate with iris rods and matte box assembly that was manufactured by my friend and mentor John Russell of JAR Enterprises. So my question is, what matte box was meant to go on these iris rods? The distance, center to center, of the iris rods is not compatible with any of the Arriflex matte boxes I have in stock. I was wondering if Russell made his own matte box, or if this was meant to work with another matte box that was commonly available at the time? The camera is currently available on our website if you would like to read more about the Mark II and see more detailed photos.
