General Information

Serial #

142898

Part Number

1

Total Parts

5

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

METAL (IRON?) BODY/ GLASS LENSES/ TIN SPOOLS/ LEATHER CASE WITH VELVET INTERIOR.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

24.5 cm

Width

23.5 cm

Height

14.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Photography

Category

Cine cameras

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Bell Howell

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Illinois

City

Chicago

Context

Country

Europe

State/Province

Unknown

Period

1940s & 1950s (+?)

Canada

According to the donor, this camera was used at Normandy on D-Day, and during the Korean War by members of the Canadian Armed Forces. More specifically, it was used by Major Colin McDougall of Ottawa who was a captain during the D-Day landings and in charge of the Canadian Film and Photo Unit. The donor’s son claims that Captain McDougall was tasked with retrieving film of the landings on D-Day to return it to the United Kingdom. Researcher Dale Gervais, of the Canadian Film and Photo Unit website, states that the 16 mm Filmo 70 camera was not widely used in the field by the unit who used 35 mm cameras as its standard model. However, there is evidence of Filmo 70 cameras being used by the unit on D-Day and in Korea, including footage held by Library and Archives Canada.

Function

This camera was used to record moving images, or cinema images, in two-dimensional formal on 16 mm photographic film.

Technical

Excellent design that had previously appeared briefly ASA 17-1/2mm camera. Compact die cast metal body, 100' film spools and heavy spring motor drive. Uses rugged version of very successful Lumiere/Pathe film transport movement (as per McKeown, p. 485).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

.1: A RIVETED PLATE STATES: 'BELL AND HOWELL CO. CHICAGO. FILMO REGISTERED. CAMERA-70-MODEL-D.A. MADE IN USA'./ ON THE WINDING KNOB IT STATES: 'BELL AND HOWELL CO. CHICAGO. MADE IN U.S.A. PAT. APP'D. FOR'./ BELOW IN A CASTSHIELD IN RAISED UNPAINTED LETTERING: 'STANDARD BELL AND HOWELL COMPANY. CINEMACHINERY'/ SN ON BASE AND INSIDE BODY/.2: 'Eyemo' ON LEATHER STRAP.

Missing

COMPLETE.

Finish

BODY IS BLACK PAINT WITH CRACKLE-LIKE DESIGN ALL OVER./ THE CARRYING CASE IS SMOOTH BROWN LEATHER.

Decoration

N/A