Research

Al and Charles Christie, "Exhibitors Herald" 1924

Some Help with a History of the Christie Film Co.

To go along with our ongoing restoration of Mitchell Standard #46, we are currently in the process of researching the history of the camera’s first owner, the Christie Film Company. Brothers Al and Charles Christie founded the Christie Film Company in Hollywood in 1916 and produced short and feature-length comedies through 1933. The Great Depression …

Some Help with a History of the Christie Film Co. Read More »

Mitchell FC sn. 8

Mitchell FC Fox Grandeur Camera sn. 8

As the sound era became a reality, William Fox recognized the need for better quality images in his movies. His Fox Case Corp. team, led by engineer Earl Sponable, developed the 70mm Grandeur photographic process to solve this problem. The Mitchell Camera Corporation was contracted to build a 70mm version of their successful Mitchell Standard, …

Mitchell FC Fox Grandeur Camera sn. 8 Read More »

Victor Animatograph Co. Model 3 camera

Victor Animatograph Co. Model 3 16mm Camera

The Victor Cine Camera Model 3 is a 16mm spring-driven motion picture camera manufactured by the Victor Animatograph Corporation and introduced in 1927. The company was founded in Davenport, Iowa in 1910 by Swedish-born inventor and showman Alexander Victor. Victor’s career began in 1894 when he joined the show of traveling magician “The Great Stephanio”. …

Victor Animatograph Co. Model 3 16mm Camera Read More »

Mitchell VistaVision Camera MVV6

Mitchell VistaVision Camera MVV6

From the sets of DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” and Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”, we are delighted to present this complete Mitchell Vista Vision camera package. This “Elephant Ear” VistaVision camera, MVV-6, was masterfully restored by my friend Mark Mervis, who collected, restored, and documented this camera and all of these accessories to create this historical camera package. …

Mitchell VistaVision Camera MVV6 Read More »

Mitchell FC Friction Head

The Mitchell FC Friction Head Is Complete!

It’s alive! The FC friction head restoration is finally complete! Here, you can see the friction head supporting Mitchell FC camera sn.8. Mitchell friction heads have a surprising number of parts that all had to be reconditioned or remanufactured in order to make this unit complete again. The casting hides 10 steel friction plates, 14 …

The Mitchell FC Friction Head Is Complete! Read More »