I have a soft spot in my heart for the Showscan system as I was lucky enough to be part of the team in John Russel’s shop that built the first few cameras that were used to test the system. The three cameras that we built were based on Mitchell FC cameras. We also built […]
Showscan #001 and #102 Back for a Visit Read More »
As I mentioned previously, I have been working on cleaning up some Super Baltar lenses in between other jobs. This week was dedicated to servicing, lubricating, and collimating 2 of the 3 sets of Super Baltar lenses I will have available soon. When Bausch & Lomb introduced the Super Baltar series of lenses in 1960,
The Saga of the Super Baltars Continues Read More »
As part of my involvement with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences History and Technology Subcommittee, we have been hard at work getting the Dykstraflex cleaned up and ready to be exhibited at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. This was a long and tedious process, involving a fair amount of logistics, cleaning,
Preparing for May the 4th: The Dykstraflex at the Academy Museum 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 »
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 »
You might remember this Fries 3×65 IMAX format camera from the repairs I did on the movement last spring. The owner brought to my attention that people who have shot with this camera in the past were concerned with the way the pull-down claw and registration pin assemblies were held in place. Their feeling was
Fries 3×65 IMAX Format Camera, Revisited (Again) Read More »
Last week someone asked if I could show the basic care and feeding of a Unit “I” Shuttle and where the major oil points are. I originally showed the Unit “I” Shuttle as I was preparing to install it in this Acme Model 6 camera, so I thought I would give an overview of my
The Acme Model 6 and Basic Maintenance Read More »
As we have established in the recent past, wrinkle paint does not do well in the rain and the cold, both of which we have had in Los Angeles this week. So much as I wanted to be finished with the VistaVision magazines this week, that had to be put on hold again until the
A Glance Inside an Acme-style Unit “I” Shuttle Read More »
I know that I said I was going to work on the new display shelving unit for the showroom first thing in the new year, but I needed to get all of these pieces of VistaVision equipment cleaned up, repaired, and put away before I begin to make all that saw dust. I also have
VistaVision 400′ and 1000′ Magazines – Technicolor? Read More »
Things were moving along as expected with the VistaVision Butterfly camera. I got all of the 400’ magazines cleaned, serviced, and painted. Got the camera cleaned of corrosion and spot painted inside and out so it looks pretty again. Made a new power cable, serviced the movement, and ran everything. All looked great until I
Small Setback on the VistaVision Butterfly Camera Read More »
