by mitchellbnc » Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:36 am
More about the 1929 Mitchell Standard referenced above which sold at the Debbioor Reynolds auction:
804. Historic Mitchell NC Standard #257 35mm Camera used to shoot Dracula, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, Fantasia, and effects for Star Trek: The Original Series. (ca. 1920s-1930s) This historic Mitchell NC Standard #257 camera has an incredible lineage. According to the Mitchell Camera Corporation records, camera #257 was originally purchased by Universal Studios in 1929. #257 was used to film All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931) and for special photographic effects for the re-release of 1925’s Phantom of the Opera.
The camera remained in service at Universal until 1939 when Technicolor purchased the camera and rented it to the Disney Studio from 1939-1945 to photograph their three strip Technicolor animated films and cartoons. A special process was developed, by the revolutionary Disney partner Ub Iwerks and Technicolor, whereby the Mitchell camera would do three black and white frames of the animation cell with the proper Technicolor devised filtration that created the yellow, cyan, magenta master images that could be combined with a special printer into the brilliant Technicolor we all know. This allowed Technicolor to free up the very expensive and quite heavy Technicolor cameras for live action productions.
Thus, some of Disney’s greatest works passed through this camera, including Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi and Dumbo, until Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks built their own camera system. At that time, Technicolor loaned #257 to RKO Pictures Optical Effects Department for special photographic effects projects. It was there when multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects pioneer, Linwood Dunn, ASC, became familiar with what he considered one of the finest Mitchell cameras
ever built. When Dunn left RKO in 1961 to start his own company, Film Effects of Hollywood, he rented Mitchell #257 and shot effects shots on West Side Story, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and virtually any prestige production needing special optical effects, including Star Trek: The Original Series (Dunn was in charge of the visual effects for the first two seasons, including shooting the famous 11-foot model of the U.S.S. Enterprise as seen in every opening credit). When Dunn received the Star Trek contract from Desilu, he purchased the camera that became one of his prized possessions.
Included with Mitchell #257 are (2) fixed-focal length lenses, a Paris-made 38 – 150mm zoom lens (T:5.6 – 32) with Mitchell BNC mount, Mitchell side viewfinder with aspect ratio slides, (2) 1,000-ft. film magazines, variable speed motor, hand-crank, early stop-motion package, rare set of Technicolor filters. Includes an unprecedented collection of accessories, maintenance tools and parts assembled by Linwood Dunn throughout his storied career as a visual effects pioneer. Includes a Mitchell friction head and wooden tripod legs, in addition a rare camera dolly with Mitchell plate.
An incredible piece of motion picture equipment responsible for creating drama, horror and animated classics, as well as leaving an indelible mark in science fiction history. Includes (9) component-carrying cases ranging from 9.5 x 11 x 9 in. to 13 x 23 x7.25 in. Special shipping arrangements will apply. Camera comes with a letter of provenance from Roy H. Wagner, ASC. $40,000 - $60,000
- Attachments
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- Mitchell Standard no. 257
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- Originally purchased by Universal Studios in 1929
More about the 1929 Mitchell Standard referenced above which sold at the Debbioor Reynolds auction:
804. Historic Mitchell NC Standard #257 35mm Camera used to shoot Dracula, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, Fantasia, and effects for Star Trek: The Original Series. (ca. 1920s-1930s) This historic Mitchell NC Standard #257 camera has an incredible lineage. According to the Mitchell Camera Corporation records, camera #257 was originally purchased by Universal Studios in 1929. #257 was used to film All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931) and for special photographic effects for the re-release of 1925’s Phantom of the Opera.
The camera remained in service at Universal until 1939 when Technicolor purchased the camera and rented it to the Disney Studio from 1939-1945 to photograph their three strip Technicolor animated films and cartoons. A special process was developed, by the revolutionary Disney partner Ub Iwerks and Technicolor, whereby the Mitchell camera would do three black and white frames of the animation cell with the proper Technicolor devised filtration that created the yellow, cyan, magenta master images that could be combined with a special printer into the brilliant Technicolor we all know. This allowed Technicolor to free up the very expensive and quite heavy Technicolor cameras for live action productions.
Thus, some of Disney’s greatest works passed through this camera, including Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi and Dumbo, until Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks built their own camera system. At that time, Technicolor loaned #257 to RKO Pictures Optical Effects Department for special photographic effects projects. It was there when multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects pioneer, Linwood Dunn, ASC, became familiar with what he considered one of the finest Mitchell cameras
ever built. When Dunn left RKO in 1961 to start his own company, Film Effects of Hollywood, he rented Mitchell #257 and shot effects shots on West Side Story, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and virtually any prestige production needing special optical effects, including Star Trek: The Original Series (Dunn was in charge of the visual effects for the first two seasons, including shooting the famous 11-foot model of the U.S.S. Enterprise as seen in every opening credit). When Dunn received the Star Trek contract from Desilu, he purchased the camera that became one of his prized possessions.
Included with Mitchell #257 are (2) fixed-focal length lenses, a Paris-made 38 – 150mm zoom lens (T:5.6 – 32) with Mitchell BNC mount, Mitchell side viewfinder with aspect ratio slides, (2) 1,000-ft. film magazines, variable speed motor, hand-crank, early stop-motion package, rare set of Technicolor filters. Includes an unprecedented collection of accessories, maintenance tools and parts assembled by Linwood Dunn throughout his storied career as a visual effects pioneer. Includes a Mitchell friction head and wooden tripod legs, in addition a rare camera dolly with Mitchell plate.
An incredible piece of motion picture equipment responsible for creating drama, horror and animated classics, as well as leaving an indelible mark in science fiction history. Includes (9) component-carrying cases ranging from 9.5 x 11 x 9 in. to 13 x 23 x7.25 in. Special shipping arrangements will apply. Camera comes with a letter of provenance from Roy H. Wagner, ASC. $40,000 - $60,000