One of the things that kept getting put off when we moved from our previous location at MovieTech Studios to our current location in Lawndale is organizing the many, many boxes of documents and printed materials I have collected over the years. Many of these items are service and parts manuals for various cameras, but […]
Almost Finished with Organizing and Labeling Our Library Read More »
One of the things we never really did after we moved was organize and catalog our small library of camera manuals, advertising, research materials, and other assorted historical documentation. We have been busy the last few days going through the collection, organizing and categorizing what we have, and trying to make a catalog. Just thought
Organization Chaos – Library Edition Read More »
Recently I shared this amazing Mitchell NC camera with the most unusual follow focus system I have seen in a long time. The camera came here with the idea that I would find it a new home. To begin assessing its condition, I tried to turn the camera over by hand. This was not possible
Mitchell NC #184 Finds A New Home Read More »
We wanted to take a moment to bid a fond farewell to the Fox Grandeur camera, Mitchell FC #8, which has found a perfect new home at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winerset, Iowa. There are a few camera projects that I have loved working on and hate to see leave, but it’s more
A Fond Farewell to Mitchell FC #8 Read More »
A few weeks ago, an old friend of mine, Bob Bailey, reconnected with me and asked if I could help him re-home a Mitchell NC camera that he has been holding on to. Bob shot plates and 2nd unit for several movies with this camera, which he acquired from my professor and mentor Peter Gibbons.
Mitchell NC 184: A Treasure Unearthed Read More »
To honor the 249th birthday of our country, we hearken back to a time when we fought the rise of fascism rather than welcomed it in. One of the ways in which the United States pursued this fight during World War II was with the Army Air Forces First Motion Picture Unit, also known as
The First Motion Picture Unit and Mitchell NC #239 Read More »
Continuing on with last week’s project of seeing what motors I have, and which of them actually work, I took every motor in inventory out of its case, connected it to the appropriate power, and made sure it ran. This process ended up taking much longer than anticipated, as these things generally do, but I
Sorting Motors: Choosing Who Will Go and Who Can Stay Read More »
I know I said it was going to be a couple of weeks before I reported back on the problem with this Fries VistaVision camera, and at the time, it seemed it was going to take a lot more detective work. It turns out that the problems were simpler than I feared. The first problem
Revisiting the Fries VistaVision Camera Read More »
When last we talked, I shared with you a collection of lenses that were used by visual effects master David Allen. With the exception of one particularly stubborn zoom lens, I have finished cleaning, lubricating, and collimating all of the lenses I shared. This week I promised to give you a look at one of
A Fries Mitchell 35R from the Studio of David Allen Read More »
I was away much of the week doing my civic duty as a potential juror, so actual projects were on hold once again. In between waiting in the jury room and freedom, this absolutely stunning collection of motion picture cameras and equipment came into the shop. We only have time to give you a brief
An Amazing Camera Haul! Read More »
