I’ve had a couple of questions recently about vintage motors for various cameras, and before I could answer them, I had to go through the giant pile of motors I’ve collected over the years. I had to see which ones actually work, which ones are repairable, and which ones are so damaged they just need […]
Reviewing Our Motor Inventory Read More »
I have been hard at work this week on restoring the Motion Picture Apparatus Company tripod, but in the meantime I wanted to share with you this quick project I completed while waiting for paint and parts to arrive. This Manfrotto 3066 tripod has been sitting in the shop for several years missing its quick
A New Quick Release for a Manfrotto Tripod Read More »
Now that the work on the Pathé camera is finished, I wanted to pair it with a period appropriate tripod and pan tilt head. I don’t remember where I rescued this tripod from, but I have been holding onto this antique Motion Picture Apparatus Company tripod and pan tilt head for a while, and this
Motion Picture Apparatus Company Tripod Read More »
While I am closed in this odd limbo time between holiday and new year, I wanted to share this final project that I finished in 2024. I have a client who is building himself a film scanner from various bits and pieces that I have sold him and that he has been making himself. A
Servicing a 16mm Acme Movement Read More »
I am taking a couple of days off this week, but before I do, I wanted to go through the accessories that come with the ARRI BL 4S camera I began repairing last week. The first thing I looked at was the follow focus unit, which would not … follow focus? What I discovered was
Repairing the ARRI BL 4S Follow Focus Read More »
As I promised last week, this week I wanted to share the other two Nagra tape recorders that are now available on our website. I have one classic Nagra III that is mostly in good, working condition. While I was inspecting this Nagra III, I discovered that the amplifier for the internal speaker is not
Nagra III and Nagra 4.2 Read More »
People have been asking me about the collection of Nagra portable analog audio tape recorders that I showed off in previous posts, and I have finally gotten time to look through them. In the collection are two Nagra IV-L, one Nagra III, and one Nagra 4.2. This week, I focused on the two IV-L units.
Nagra IV-L Analog Portable Reel to Reel Audio Tape Recorder 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 »
Much like the high quality, all-aluminum Peter Lisand pedestals, the inventory I bought from the Lisand family included quite a few of these well thought out, well made, medium duty shoulder and body braces. I have used one with a RED Dragon and with a Canon T3i to shoot video, and they were simple to
Peter Lisand Shoulder and Body Braces Read More »
While I am still trying to get the belt drive screws out of the VistaVision camera, which is turning into a long and frustrating process, I thought I’d make a slight turn and show a fascinating piece of equipment that Roy Wagner has left with me with the hopes of finding it a new home.
Still Struggling with the VistaVision Camera Read More »
