American Cinematographer - December 1930 - 13

Warner Brothers' New Camera
Given First Public Showing at A. S. C. Meeting
by

WM. STULL, A. S. C.

T

HE OCTOBER meeting of the American Society of Cinema¬
tographers marked the premiere showing of what is, in the
unanimous opinion of the several score cinematographers

ing gear and other noises,

and

in addition embodies several

unique features, concerning which, however, pending the grant¬
ing of patents, little may be said.

The actual film movement is

present, undoubtedly the finest and most advanced motion pic¬

secured by means of the conventional pair of actuating fingers

ture camera thus far developed. This is the new Warner Broth¬

and pilot pins.

ers' Camera. It is singularly fitting that from this organization,

reduce sound, but to protect the film from any oil that might

whose introduction of the Vitaphone first drove the camera¬

be thrown from the moving parts.

man into the seclusion of sound-proof camera-booths, should

pressure-plate, operating under variable tension, which is con¬

come a design which will completely free him from the restric¬

trolled

tions brought about by the necessity for insulating all camera

plate is easily removable for cleaning, and its roller construc¬

noise from the microphone: for the new camera is absolutely

tion is claimed to assure freedom from scratches caused by the

silent in its operation.

presence of dust and such foreign material.

This, alone, is enough to commend it

heartily to all cinematographers engaged in sound picture work;
yet aside from this there are embodied in the design innumer¬
able other

refinements of greater or

less

importance,

which

The movement is entirely enclosed, not only to

through eccentric cams and

There is an unusual roller

a spring.

This pressure-

The shutter has the unusual opening of 180 degrees.
controlled

from the rear of the camera,

in

It is

the conventional

manner, with an indicating dial and operating lever.

This lever,

combine to make it, in the words of the cinematographers who

however, is provided with a positive lock, whereby the shutter

inspected it, "A real cameraman's camera."

can be locked at any setting, with the assurance that it cannot

This perfection of detail is probably best understood when
it is known that the men responsible for the new camera are
Albert Tondreau, Frank Murphy, and Fred Cage, A. S. C.

For,

in addition to the technical skill naturally indicated by their
positions as heads, respectively, of the Camera Machine Shop,

be changed accidentally.

In addition, it is expected that the

later models of this camera will have a dissolving shutter, as
the preliminary designs for such a part indicate that it is pos¬
sible to make one which will operate silently.
The oiling system has received special attention, particularly

Electrical Engineering, and Laboratory departments of the War¬

from the point of view of maintenance.

ner Bros.-First National organization, these three men possess

have been brought to a central point, on the right-hand side

an

of the camera, where, by removing a small plate, the oil leads

uniquely

troubles

of

intimate
studio

knowledge of the

cinematographers.

technical

Therefore,

needs and
when. J.

L.

All of the oil

to every bearing in the camera and motor may be oiled at once,

Warner gave this triumvirate carte blanche to proceed with the

obviating the possibility of accidentally (or otherwise)

development of a camera that would be perfectly suited to the

ing to oil any point in the camera.

needs

of

studio

cinematography,

his

selection

automatically

guaranteed the success of the project.
The camera which has resulted from these efforts is a revela¬
tion

in

design

and

lines

The

standard

Western

Electric

three-phase,

motor is an integral part of the camera.

neglect¬

synchronous

Special care has been

given to the cooling of this motor, and this difficulty, which
has previously given so

workmanship. The gen¬

much trouble, has been

eral arrangement of the

entirely

component

addition

to

lows conventional prac¬

chronous

motor,

tice,

refinements combine to

sion has been made for
hand-cranking and for

make

the

units

but

fol¬

the

the

new

detail
camera

overcome.

use

an unique creation, and

Mitchell

evidence

when

usual

a

most

un¬

understanding

of

the
1 :1

the

provided,

part

of
of

the

de¬

cial

signers.
As
before,
era
in

is

has

been

stated

provi¬

standard

motor for use

shooting

practical

needs

a

In
syn¬

silent

scenes and inserts. Both

studio cinemachinery on

the

of

the

standard
crank

8:1

while a

clutch

disengages

and

shafts

are
spe¬

engages
the

or

syn¬

cam¬

chronous motor at will.

absolutely silent

With the motor disen¬

this

new

its operation.

This

gaged, the camera turns

silence is secured chief¬

surprisingly

ly

of

spite the fact that it, in

double-wall

common with all other

through

insulated,

the

use

construction throughout

sound

the camera case.

ball bearings.

The

design of the movement
employs
the
conven¬
tional means of silenc¬

freely,

cameras,

de¬

has no

Aside from its silent
(Continued on
Page 30)
American Cinematographer - December 1930

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - December 1930
