Difference between revisions of "Bell & Howell"
(A sentence about the Foton; called it B&H best still camera) |
(Couple of vague sentences about later history and ownership now; noted cheaper cameras from 1990s. Ref to current website with at least one digital camera.) |
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| − | {{stub}}'''Bell and Howell''' is an American manufacturer best known in the past for motion-picture equipment. The company was started by Donald J. Bell, a projectionist, and Albert S. Howell, who worked for a maker of film projectors. Their first camera, a wooden cine camera, was made in 1910. The company's early products were very successful, and they made most of the cameras used in Hollywood for a while; however, Bell and Howell fell out, and Howell and an associate bought out Bell's share in the firm.<ref>Gale Directory of Company Histories, 2006, Gale Group Inc.</ref> | + | {{stub}}'''Bell and Howell''' is an American manufacturer best known in the past for motion-picture equipment. The company was started by Donald J. Bell, a projectionist, and Albert S. Howell, who worked for a maker of film projectors. Their first camera, a wooden cine camera, was made in 1910. The company's early products were very successful, and they made most of the cameras used in Hollywood for a while; however, Bell and Howell fell out, and Howell and an associate bought out Bell's share in the firm.<ref name=Gale>Gale Directory of Company Histories, 2006, Gale Group Inc.</ref> |
Bell and Howell made only a few notable still cameras. Of these, perhaps the most impressive is the [[Foton]] from 1948, a cooupled-rangefinder camera with a spring motor advance allowing continuous exposures at 6 frames per second. Some of B&H's cameras came about by company acquisitions; B&H bought the '''Three Dimension Company''', which made stereoscopic cameras and equipment, and retained the TDC brand for the [[TDC Stereo Colorist|Stereo Colorist and Stereo Colorist II]] and the [[Stereo Vivid]]. | Bell and Howell made only a few notable still cameras. Of these, perhaps the most impressive is the [[Foton]] from 1948, a cooupled-rangefinder camera with a spring motor advance allowing continuous exposures at 6 frames per second. Some of B&H's cameras came about by company acquisitions; B&H bought the '''Three Dimension Company''', which made stereoscopic cameras and equipment, and retained the TDC brand for the [[TDC Stereo Colorist|Stereo Colorist and Stereo Colorist II]] and the [[Stereo Vivid]]. | ||
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In the 1960s, some [[Canon]] cameras (including at least the [[Canon FX|FX]], [[Canon Demi|Demi]], [[Canon Dial 35]] and some of the [[Canonet]] series) were marketed in the USA by B&H, some with and some without Canon's branding as well.<ref>McKeown shows a Dial 35 marked only for B&H; {{McKeown12}} p123.</ref> | In the 1960s, some [[Canon]] cameras (including at least the [[Canon FX|FX]], [[Canon Demi|Demi]], [[Canon Dial 35]] and some of the [[Canonet]] series) were marketed in the USA by B&H, some with and some without Canon's branding as well.<ref>McKeown shows a Dial 35 marked only for B&H; {{McKeown12}} p123.</ref> | ||
| − | The company is now (as at June 2012) owned by the holding company BHH LLC | + | B&H stopped making professional and amateur cine cameras in the early 1970s, and concentrated on other businesses, including mechanised mail-sorting equipment<ref>Bell and Howell, LLC is still (after a relaunch) in this business; see the [http://www.bellhowell.net/default.aspx company website] (retrieved 30 June 2012).</ref> and microfilm. The company was subsequently involved in a large number of acquisitions and sell-offs.<ref name=Gale/> A number of cheap cameras exist from the 1990s with the B&H brand. |
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| + | The Bell and Howell brand is now (as at June 2012) owned by the holding company BHH LLC (completely separate from Bell and Howell, LLC) and is applied to a wide range of products, including some compact digital cameras.<ref>[http://www.bellhowell.com/ B&H website] (retrieved 30 June 2012).</ref> | ||
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==Still cameras== | ==Still cameras== | ||
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* Autoload 341, 1970 | * Autoload 341, 1970 | ||
* [[Autoload 342]], 1970 | * [[Autoload 342]], 1970 | ||
| − | + | * 35J | |
| + | * [[BF35]] | ||
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Nowadays it is incorporated into Böwe Bell+Howell which makes office products.--> | Nowadays it is incorporated into Böwe Bell+Howell which makes office products.--> | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 14:25, 30 June 2012
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| B & H cine camera with selenium meter image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights) |
Bell and Howell is an American manufacturer best known in the past for motion-picture equipment. The company was started by Donald J. Bell, a projectionist, and Albert S. Howell, who worked for a maker of film projectors. Their first camera, a wooden cine camera, was made in 1910. The company's early products were very successful, and they made most of the cameras used in Hollywood for a while; however, Bell and Howell fell out, and Howell and an associate bought out Bell's share in the firm.[1]
Bell and Howell made only a few notable still cameras. Of these, perhaps the most impressive is the Foton from 1948, a cooupled-rangefinder camera with a spring motor advance allowing continuous exposures at 6 frames per second. Some of B&H's cameras came about by company acquisitions; B&H bought the Three Dimension Company, which made stereoscopic cameras and equipment, and retained the TDC brand for the Stereo Colorist and Stereo Colorist II and the Stereo Vivid.
In the 1960s, some Canon cameras (including at least the FX, Demi, Canon Dial 35 and some of the Canonet series) were marketed in the USA by B&H, some with and some without Canon's branding as well.[2]
B&H stopped making professional and amateur cine cameras in the early 1970s, and concentrated on other businesses, including mechanised mail-sorting equipment[3] and microfilm. The company was subsequently involved in a large number of acquisitions and sell-offs.[1] A number of cheap cameras exist from the 1990s with the B&H brand.
The Bell and Howell brand is now (as at June 2012) owned by the holding company BHH LLC (completely separate from Bell and Howell, LLC) and is applied to a wide range of products, including some compact digital cameras.[4]
Still cameras
- Foton, 1948
- Electric Eye 127, 1958
- Autoload 340, 1967
- Autoload 341, 1970
- Autoload 342, 1970
- 35J
- BF35
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gale Directory of Company Histories, 2006, Gale Group Inc.
- ↑ McKeown shows a Dial 35 marked only for B&H; McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p123.
- ↑ Bell and Howell, LLC is still (after a relaunch) in this business; see the company website (retrieved 30 June 2012).
- ↑ B&H website (retrieved 30 June 2012).
