Akeley cine camera

Made:
1917 in United States
maker:
Akeley Camera Company
inventor:
Carl Akeley
Akeley 35mm Cine Camera Akeley 35mm Cine Camera

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Akeley 35mm Cine Camera
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Akeley 35mm Cine Camera
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Akeley 35mm cine camera with tripod and panning head, Akeley Camera Co, No 153, 1917.

Invented by Carl Akeley (1864-1926), curator of the American Museum of Natural History, this camera was of unique design. The film was contained in a single magazine inside the camera. The shutter was cylindrical and ran round the inside of the body. This image shows the telescope viewfinder which could be adjusted to any angle allowing the cameraman to follow rapid action easily, regardless of the tilt of the camera. Akeley cameras were mainly used for documentary films, notably Robert Flaherty's 'Nanook of the North' (1922).

Details

Category:
Cinematography
Object Number:
1962-5
Materials:
aluminium (metal), brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass, rubber (unidentified) and steel (metal)
Measurements:
overall: 390 mm x 270 mm x 700 mm,
type:
cine camera
taxonomy:
  • tools and equipment
  • equipment by process
  • image making equipment
  • camera (function)
credit:
Gift of E M Wayand