In order to move forward with the machine work on the replacement bottom plate for Mitchell 46, the front plate had to be installed so that three important things could be established: First, the proper thickness of the front plate so that the camera will slide freely on the rackover L-base and still light trap. […]
Mitchel 46: The Glue Crisis Read More »
After the puzzling and disappointing failure of the Loctite adhesive last week (Loctite has never failed me before!) I went through a process of cleaning and degreasing the camera casting and the replacement bottom plate. I spoke to an adhesive expert, and he recommended 3M’s Scotch Weld 2216 2-part epoxy. The process required 4 arms
Is This Glue Really Going to Work? Read More »
The task at hand with Mitchell Standard #46 is now to put metal back where it was unceremoniously removed. This problem is compounded by the fact that so much material was removed from the bottom of the camera casting, that some areas are perilously thin. After three days of contemplating the next steps, and a
Mitchell Standard 46 – Creating the Replacement Bottom and Front Plates Read More »
These are the last two Moviecam SuperAmericas that have come to us from the Bruce Taylor collection. Both of these cameras, as well as the camera we showed last week, were a part of Bruce Taylor’s Indi35 cine rental inventory. Bruce has entrusted the two SuperAmerica MK 2s and the SuperAmerica MK 1 to us
Two More Moviecams For Your Consideration Read More »
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 »
The Moviecam Super America MK II is an extraordinary 35mm sound silent motion picture camera featuring Super 35 format and a PL lens mount. When it was introduced in the 1980s, the Moveicam Super America (and its successor the MK II) represented a seachange in the design and functionality of professional motion picture cameras. The
New This Week: Moviecam Super America MK II Read More »
Recently, the Panavision SPSR went to its new home, but we were lucky enough to hold on to the Panavision zoom lens that was originally packaged with the camera. Rarely available for private ownership, we are offering this extraordinary lens separately and it is available now here: https://bit.ly/3izJXrg The lens is a Panavision 20-120mm T3
Panavision 20-120mm Zoom Lens Read More »
Around 1983 I built this single frame rear process projector for my friend and colleague David Stipes. This lovely piece of machinery was used to project background plates into matte paintings and tabletop miniatures. We used it on such projects as “Ice Pirates”, “Real Genius”, “V”, “Trancers”, an episode of “The Twilight Zone”, and many
1983 has come back for a visit! Read More »
Progress at last! Sadly Mitchell 46 has been far more butchered than I had anticipated. Still, we shall persevere. I managed to get about 90% of the working pieces out of the camera casting, though the shutter shaft stubbornly remains in place due to corrosion. The screw that holds the focal plane shutter to the
Undoing What Has Been Done – Mitchell Standard 46 Read More »
I am still healing from surgery, so I haven’t been able to get back to Mitchell 46 yet, but should be able to by late next week. Fingers crossed! When I was sorting through the cache of Baltar lenses I posted about recently, I also discovered a pair of Wollesak Raptar 10in (254mm) lens cells.
Some Interesting New Lenses This Week Read More »
