I am so happy to send this classic Bell & Howell 2709 camera to its new home this week. Its new owner is planning to give it a new life shooting movies once again. This camera has a long history, originally purchased by the US Department of the Interior in 1936.
Later in its life, Camera Equipment Company did an extremely good rackover conversion, giving this 2709 the rackover feature that made the Mitchell Standard so popular.
We acquired this camera from a small studio in Chicago where it was used to make animated local commercials, as well as titles and visual effects for small features.
I wanted to make sure Bell & Howell 2709 #1015 was ready to make movies again, so while I didn’t take it completely apart, I disassembled most of the camera and the movement to make sure everything was clean and properly lubricated.
The culmination of this exercise was getting to handcrank the camera for the first time in many years. I haven’t practiced my handcrank rhythm, so it wasn’t very steady, but at least I can show the camera in motion with film. Now it heads on to its new home abroad, ready to make movies once more. Bon voyage!
