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There is even an exposure calculator beside
the dial to indicate exposure times at
different shutter angles. An ultra fine
focusing screen can be fitted into the gate to
provide accurate focusing and mask
placement.
All of this suggests that this Wilart Camera
played a significant role in our Cinema
history. I hope that further information may
come to light and confirm this. Are there
any old timers out there who would know?

All in all, an excellent camera, but like the
Lumiere and the Pathé it was soon to be
eclipsed by the magnificent Bell & Howell
Model 2709. Watch this space.
Acknowledgments:
My sincere thanks to my friend and Cinema
Neat little velvet covered box for storage of Historian, Ron West, for information on the
viewing screen attached inside the camera door. Wilart, and to my friend Jack McDonald,
Below it, the velvet lining and focus magnifying Cinema History Collector for the loan of the
tube are missing. Wilart to explore and photograph.
Photos by Kev Franzi
The superbly
accurate Lumiere
P.S. Walt Disney used a Wilart to make his
type movement
first films.
would give a
steady picture and
all the mechanism Ed Note:
runs in large ball
race bearings. The The Australian film industry was fortunate to
fading shutter is have the talents of people like Bert Cross,
operated Arthur Smith, Ken G Hall and others at a time
automatically at when sound films were in their infancy.
the touch of a
button with the In the true tradition of Australia endeavour,
the two technical wizards at Cinesound, Burt
shutter dial
Cross and Arthur Smith didn’t let the lack of
showing clearly
equipment bother them, it they needed
the position of the
something unobtainable, they made it!
shutter blades.
Their knowledge and ability to experiment and
produce or modify the equipment that was
Left: The aperture
mask with its needed brought the early Australian cinema
registration holes for industry to the forefront of world cinema
exact positioning. technology
March 2021 REEL DEALS 9