While doing a final test run of the ARRI 35 BL2, I discovered that the feed side clutch on one of the 1000’ magazines was jammed. Fortunately, I had replacement clutch pads in my collection of parts, so the magazine had to come apart, the surfaces of the clutch mechanism had to be thoroughly cleaned, […]
Investigating a set of Super Baltars, and Repairing an ARRI 35 BL2 magazine Read More »
I played a lot of catch-up this week, getting several cameras finalized and ready to be listed on our website. Work is now complete on the VistaVision Butterfly camera, as well as the ARRI BL2, and the ARRI BL 4S is currently on the workbench undergoing a final inspection. All 3 cameras are now available
Camera Housekeeping Read More »
After countless interruptions, numerous wrinkle paint failures, much choking on magnesium dust, and stripping and re-foaming all of the original cases, the VistaVision Butterfly camera and all of its accessories is finally ready to find a new home! This updated Mitchell VistaVision “light-weight hand-held” production camera features a Nikon lens mount; a crystal motor with
VistaVision Butterfly Read More »
The new shelving unit is completed at long last! And the original shelving unit has been painted to match (somewhat). We have spent the last couple of days toting barges, lifting bales, and lugging cameras to and fro as we attempted to reorganize the showroom. It’s still a work in progress, but we are too
Reorganizing the Showroom 2024 Read More »
Last week we had a sneak peak at the Moviecam SuperAmerica and the two Showscan CP65 cameras as a couple of the many ongoing projects on my plate right now. On my list of tasks this week were: sourcing and ordering new batteries for the SuperAmerica camera and magazine digital counters; begin planning the baseplates
Even More Too Many Projects Read More »
I know I said back in January that I was going to work on a new set of shelves for the showroom, but I have been swamped with so many other things since then and am only now getting a moment to start that project. In the meantime, this lovely Moviecam SuperAmerica has returned after
A Moviecam SuperAmerica, and Too Many Other Projects Read More »
Some 40+ years ago, I had the privilege of being one of the engineers and cameramen at the Universal Studios Hartland visual effects facility. One of the many things I designed and built there was a 3-axis motion control model mover. My friend Peter Anderson rescued part of one of these model movers and kept
A Visitor from the Past – the Hartland 3-Axis Model Mover Read More »
I am glad that so many of you feel as warm and fuzzy toward the Arri 35 BL series of cameras as I do. As I dug deeper into the many, many cases that came from Lucky Brown’s collection, I discovered that the BL2 also has the extension viewfinder, three Cooke Speed Panchro lenses, lens
I am a big fan of the ARRI 35 BL series of cameras. The movies I shot for Lucky Brown I shot with an ARRI 35 BL 4S as the first unit camera. At the time, it was very affordable, and it had all of the features I was looking for. When I took in
Arriflex 35 BL 2 Camera Package Read More »
Last week’s brilliant solution to modify the Fries 3×65 15-perf pull-across camera was partially unsuccessful when the camera was run at speed. Join me as I rethink the problem with the pull-down assembly on this Fries 3×65 camera movement.
Fries Engineering 3×65 15-perf Camera Movement Modification, Again Read More »
