Aeroscope Camera and Hand Pump

'Aeroscope' portable 35mm cine camera with hand pump, magazine and crank handle, patented by Kazimierz Proszynski in 1910.

Patented in 1910 by the Polish engineer Kazimierz Proszynski, the Aeroscope was the first completely successful hand-held 35mm cine camera. It was powered by compressed air, and used by the British War Office, newsreel cameramen and most of the leading film companies from 1912 until the advent of sound. As the camera was 'charged' with compressed air prior to use, the camera operator did not need to turn the crank to advance the film, leaving both hands free to hold the camera and control focus. This made it possible to film with the Aeroscope in most difficult circumstances such as war zones and from airplanes. An Aeroscope camera was used by Arthur Herbert Malins to film at the Battle of the Somme.

A separate compartment could carry up to 400 feet (122 metres) of 35mm film.