Aeroscope was a type of
compressed air camera for making films, constructed by
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
inventor
Kazimierz Prószyński
Kazimierz Prószyński (4 April 1875 – 13 March 1945) was a Polish inventor active in the field of cinematography. He patented his first film camera, called Pleograph, before the Lumière brothers, and later went on to improve the cinema pr ...
in 1909 (French patent from 10 April 1909) and built in England since 1911,
at first by
Newman & Sinclair,
and from 1912 by Cherry Kearton Limited.
Background
Patented in England in 1910 by the
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
inventor
Kazimierz Prószyński
Kazimierz Prószyński (4 April 1875 – 13 March 1945) was a Polish inventor active in the field of cinematography. He patented his first film camera, called Pleograph, before the Lumière brothers, and later went on to improve the cinema pr ...
,
Aeroscope was the first successful hand-held operated film camera. It has been powered by
compressed air pumped before filming into the camera with a simple hand pump, similar to the one we still use to
pump bicycle tyres. Filming with Aeroscope, a cameraman did not have to turn the crank to advance the material filming, as in all cameras of that time, so he could operate the camera with both hands, holding the camera and controlling the focus. This made it possible to film with the Aeroscope hand-held in most difficult circumstances, as well as made possible to film
from airplanes, also for military purposes. Camera carried of
35mm film and, once pressurised, could work with no further pumping for up to 10 minutes. The Aeroscope was known for its simplicity and reliability.
Popularity
Hundreds of light and relatively compact Aeroscope cameras were used by the
British War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the new Ministry of Defence (MoD). This article contains text from th ...
for the combat cameramen on the battlefields of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, and by all
newsreel
A newsreel is a form of short documentary film, containing news stories and items of topical interest, that was prevalent between the 1910s and the mid 1970s. Typically presented in a cinema, newsreels were a source of current affairs, inform ...
cameramen all over world, until the late 1920s. Aeroscope has been used among others by
Arthur Herbert Malins recognized by Kelly (1997, Page 60) as “the most famous of the war cinematographers” who used it at the battle of the Somme. As several of the cameramen died filming from the firing lines Aeroscope got a name of ''camera of death''.
In 1928
Prószyński built an improved version of his camera, with an air pressure meter, but the more practical spring cameras like
Eyemo
The Eyemo is a 35 mm motion picture film camera which was manufactured by the Bell & Howell Co. of Chicago.
Background
Designed and first manufactured in 1925, it was for many years the most compact 35 mm motion picture film camer ...
and later
Bolex
Bolex International S. A. is a Swiss manufacturer of motion picture cameras based in Yverdon located in Canton of Vaud. The most notable products of which are in the 16 mm and Super 16 mm formats. Originally Bol, the company was founded by C ...
took over. However, even by the beginning of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, some of the improved Aeroscope cameras were in use by the British combat cameramen.
See also
*
Eyemo
The Eyemo is a 35 mm motion picture film camera which was manufactured by the Bell & Howell Co. of Chicago.
Background
Designed and first manufactured in 1925, it was for many years the most compact 35 mm motion picture film camer ...
*
Konvas
*
Filmo
Filmo is a series of 16 mm and 8 mm movie equipment made by the Bell & Howell Company. The line included cameras, projectors and accessories.
History
The Filmo camera series started with the 1923 Filmo 70, beginning a series of models ...
*
Debrie Parvo
The Parvo was a 35mm motion picture camera developed in France by André Debrie. The patent was registered in 1908 by his father, Joseph Dules Debrie. The camera was relatively compact for its time. It was hand-cranked, as were its predecessors. ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Photograph of the Aeroscope cameraby
National Media Museum
The National Science and Media Museum (formerly The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, 1983–2006 and then the National Media Museum, 2006–2017), located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, is part of the national Science Museum G ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
Profile of Kazimierz Prószyńskiat "Who is Who of Victorian Cinema"
"The Cameraman Who Filmed The Western Front", by Dr George Bailey, 2006, Published in Mars & Clio, the Bulletin of the British Commission for Military History, Summer 2006."Waging The Movie Battle on the European Powers" by Ernest A. Dench, The Macmillan Company, New York 1915 (now in the Public Domain)
Film and video technology
Movie cameras
Polish inventions
Science and technology in Poland