John, I have not had a chance to look at my records yet to see what I had previously found on BNC 10. You could also search on eBay and the Internet. Use various search terms like “MGM behind the scenes”, MGM Director, MGM Candid, and so on. I have found lots of pics on eBay as well as the Internet....

John, Thanks for sharing the photos! We love photos here so would like more from you. BNC 73 was in fact first sold to 20th Century Fox in 1948. Another cool artifact. When searching for the BNCs on sets, look below the camera for the lens box. They often had a set of lenses in a box that had the se...

John, Good evening from California. You are lucking to have a Mitchell camera from a major studio like MGM. As Ed touched on, your camera is pre 1927. It’s first buyer from Mitchell was MGM though so the date just may have been confused or mistaken over time. Unfortunately I have no filming history ...

Hello John in Australia! I'm at work and will have to check my records tomorrow. Be aware that information I have on what these cameras filmed is spotty. That is an old camera. How did you know MGM purchased it in 1927? It was probably made around 1923. I was working on an article about researching ...

Welcome Scene1, Interesting background, we’re glad to have you in our forum. Not a lot of people out there with experience on a BNCR. I knew Martin Hill as well. I remember he told me a story about some people who bought a camera from him (don’t recall which camera, probably a GC) as they wanted to ...

So it looks like I have the Mark II and S35R records. I’ve got SS records as well but that’s not part of this discussion. Mark II; first one sold on 10/31/1962 Mark IIA, 6/1965. The serial numbers are consecutive from the end of Mark II. Only 10 IIA’s were made. S35R, first one sold, 11/10/1965 Let ...

Ok, since I realize people want dates, I'll check my sales records and will be able to provide exact dates these cameras were first sold. I'm out now so can't do it yet....

Good question blueimperio. I have several of their brochures buried somewhere at home. If I find them I’ll try to figure it out unless someone else can enlighten us. Mark

Blueimperio, I thought it was just the NC and BNC/BNCR that had the wider magazine. I have a 1931 West Hollywood Standard but can’t measure the width. Why? Because Paramount Pictures (first owner of my camera) adapted it to fit the larger magazine (It has a plate attached on the opening). This large...

Hello, yes, Fox and other studios (under license) attached CinemaScope lenses to BNC cameras after some modification was made as the back focus was different then regular “spherical” lenses. I’m not sure about the second part of your question. My BNCR had a small metal frame (for TV filming) that sl...