General Information

Serial #

745

Part Number

1

Total Parts

27

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

All metal construction.

Dimensions

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

Length

25.0 cm

Width

18.5 cm

Height

27.0 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

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

This camera used by Mr. Roy Tash from c. 1924-25 until the 1950’s.

Canada

One of three cameras used extensively by Mr. Roy Tash (1898- 1988), Canada's best-known newsreel photographer. Tash began his career in 1915 in Chicago. He moved to Toronto in 1919, and was active from the 1920’s-1950’s. He was a founding member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. The CSC's Roy Tash trophy is awarded annually to the best news camera person in Canada. (ref. 1)

Function

To record moving images on 35mm cine film.

Technical

Introduced to the market in 1911-12, the Bell & Howell model 2709 was the world's first high-precision, all-metal (aluminum) professional camera. It introduced the top mounted twin compartment film magazine which became an industry standard, as well as the 32-tooth constant speed sprocket in the camera box for feeding film to and from the film magazine: the 32-tooth sprocket is still used. [ref.1)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Shield-shaped mfr's plate on camera back reads "BELL & HOWELL/ COMPANY/CHICAGO, U.S.A./ DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS/ STANDARD/ CINEMACHINERY/ SERIAL NO. 745/ MODEL B ". Rectangular plate, below, reads "PATENTED/ SEPT. 17 1912/ FEB. 13 1917/ OTHER PATENTS PENDING ". Serial no. "No 745" incised on camera top, above plates. "B&H" and "2709/ 701 " marked inside film winding compartment. Brass plate fitted to camera body, near viewing lens, reads : " SHUTTER/ INDEX/ DEG./OPEN/ TIME/EXP./ 170/ 1-34/ 160/ 1-36/ 150/ 1-38/ 140/ 1-41/ 130/ 1-44/ 120/ 1-48/ 110/ 1-52/ 100/ 1-58/ 90/ 1-64/ 80/ 1-72/ 70/ 1-82/ 60/ 1-96/ 50/ 1-115/ 40/ 1-144/ 30/ 1-192/ 20/ 1-288/ 10/ 1-576/ 5/ 1-1152/ OUT ". Film speed and length indicators, etc. bear appropriate markings.

Missing

Unknown.

Finish

Smooth black enamel finish on most camera surfaces. Smooth or wrinkle-textured black enamel and/or silver metal finish on most accessories and parts.

Decoration

N/A