8mm wind up movie cameras – A hobby started about 20 years ago when I found at a boot fair a hand cranked projector for £10.
Whilst most of my collection are 8mm cameras, the projector that started this hobby is a Pathascope 9.5mm device – Grandpa owned and used a 9.5mm camera pre and post war, and whilst I can still view his films on the projector, I’ve had them 1st converted once to VHS – cant play those anymore. Then to DVD – soon wont be able to play those. Whilst modern formats come and go, its safest to keep the original media?
Most of the cameras are 8mm. There are no super8 devices (far too new and modern for me). The newest camera is the first electric motored ‘domestic’ camera (a Eumig). This is in the collection as an example of the ‘end of the line’ – the end of purely mechanical 8mm cameras.
These cameras are engineering marvels – Today making a camera that can record at 8 to 64 frames a second, with variable exposure and shutter speed is trivial – You’ve probably got one in your ‘phone, but just think Clockwork– to do it with springs, weights and friction pads – and for a price that the public could afford – FANTASTIC.
The vast majority of the cameras and accessories listed have come from eBay. Strike at the right time and you can pick these devices up for a pound or two. The most I’ve paid is £100 for the little Bolsey which I thought I deserved as the crown in my collection.