CinemaGear

Here at CinemaGear we are dedicated to preserving the equipment that first brought moving images to life and continues to inspire and delight us to this day. It is our goal to bring classic motion picture cameras back to life so their history and tecnhological innovations are not lost. Our mission is to save and restore motion picture film cameras dating from their earliest days to the most refined film cameras of the 21st century.

Close-up of sales card for Bell and Howell 2709 sn. 58

Bell and Howell 2709 sn. 58

The next Bell & Howell camera on our restoration schedule is this early model 2709, serial #58. In beginning our research into the camera’s history, we started with the sales card which shows us the purchaser and sales date. The handwriting on this particular card is a bit difficult to decipher, but we think that

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Mitchell TA motor

Mitchell TA motor

This week we come to you with a quandary. We acquired a couple of these motors made by the Mitchell Camera Company in a lot purchase, not knowing anything about them. They are not like any of the many, many Mitchell motors I have worked with before. They are labeled as model TA and were

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Mitchell NCR sn. 345

Mitchell NCR sn. 345

This Mitchell NCR began its life as a Mitchell NC when it was sold to Associated Filmakers Inc. on May 28, 1946. Mitchell introduced their NC model in 1932 as an improvement on the earlier Standard model. Later on in its life, NC 345 was converted for reflex viewfinding and rebranded as an NCR. The

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Bell and Howell 2709 sn. 586

Bell & Howell 2709 #586

The all metal Bell & Howell model 2709 35mm motion picture camera was introduced in 1912 and was manufactured through the 1950s. This camera, serial # 586, was originally sold to Seminole Films, Inc. of Eustis, FL on April 2, 1923. Seminole Films was incorporated in Eustis by Dr. Edgar J. Banks in November of

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