Page 5 - RD_2021-12

In Brian's office I was issued with a new pair
of white cotton gloves and was told I could
photograph and measure the camera- but I
could not remove any part of the mechanism
to measure the inner
workings. Understandable yes, but I would
have to guess the exact size and shape of the
concealed cam system. Two and a half hours
later I had measured and photographed
everything I could access, resulting in six
pages of very rough sketches and two rolls of
film, one colour, one black and white.

I converted the rough sketches of each part to
full scale drawings with essential dimensions,
using my schoolboy drafting skills.
The original Lumiere used a special 35 mm The 'triangular' vertical cam and shuttle plate
film with one round sprocket hole each side of without the hardened claws (pins) installed.
the frame (picture) with a claw pull down of 20
mm. The original Edison 35 mm film has four the parts - when he had some spare time (to
rectangular perforations each side of the frame keep the cost down). He would not tackle the
and has a pull down of 19 mm (3/4 inch). I gears though: they were cut by Otto
decided to use the Edison system as negative Engineering Pty. Ltd. in Brisbane. The big
and positive film can still be obtained for use gear in the 8:1 ratio exposes 8 frames per turn,
in the camera. That format has not changed in 2 turns per second = 16 frames per second-
over 100 years. standard silent speed. Another friend supplied
the brass for the main plate cut neatly to size
"Yes", my Engineer friend Rob Hopkins, 5 mm thick x 170 mm square, and we were up
could do the machining and milling of most of and running with the mechanism.
Below: The rear of the main plate, attachments Below: Gate closed. The wheel on the end of the
fitted, gate open. centre shaft

REEL DEALS December 2021 5