Aeroscope
Encyclopedia
Aeroscope was a type of compressed air
camera for making films, constructed by Kazimierz Prószyński
in 1909 (French patent from April 10, 1909) and built in England since 1911, at first by Newman & Sinclair, and from 1912 by Cherry Kearton Limited.
inventor Kazimierz Prószyński
, Aeroscope was the first successful hand-held operated film camera. It has been powered by compressed air
pumped before filming into the camera with a simple hand pump, similar to the one we still use to pump bicycle tires
. Filming with Aeroscope, a cameraman did not have to turn the crank to advance the material filming, as in all cameras of that time, so he could operate the camera with both hands, holding the camera and controlling the focus. This made it possible to film with the Aeroscope hand-held in most difficult circumstances, as well as made possible to film from the airplanes
, also for the military purposes. Camera carried 400 feet (121.9 m) of 35mm film
and could work without pumping for up to 10 minutes. The Aeroscope was known for its simplicity and reliability.
, and later by all newsreel
cameramen all over world, until the late 1920s. Aeroscope has been used among others by Arthur Herbert Malins recognized by Kelly (1997, Page 60) as “the most famous of the war cinematographers” who used it at the battle of the Somme. As several of the cameramen died filming from the firing lines Aeroscope got a name of camera of death.
In 1928 Prószyński
built an improved version of his camera, with an air pressure meter, but the more practical spring cameras like Eyemo
and later Bolex
took over. However, even by the beginning of World War II
, some of the improved Aeroscope cameras were in use by the British combat cameramen.
Compressed air
Compressed air is air which is kept under a certain pressure, usually greater than that of the atmosphere. In Europe, 10 percent of all electricity used by industry is used to produce compressed air, amounting to 80 terawatt hours consumption per year....
camera for making films, constructed by Kazimierz Prószyński
Kazimierz Prószynski
Kazimierz Prószyński was a Polish inventor active in the field of cinema. He patented his first film camera, called Pleograph , before the Lumière brothers, and later went on to improve the cinema projector for the Gaumont company, as well as invent the widely used hand-held Aeroscope...
in 1909 (French patent from April 10, 1909) and built in England since 1911, at first by Newman & Sinclair, and from 1912 by Cherry Kearton Limited.
Background
Patented in England in 1910 by the PolishPoles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
inventor Kazimierz Prószyński
Kazimierz Prószynski
Kazimierz Prószyński was a Polish inventor active in the field of cinema. He patented his first film camera, called Pleograph , before the Lumière brothers, and later went on to improve the cinema projector for the Gaumont company, as well as invent the widely used hand-held Aeroscope...
, Aeroscope was the first successful hand-held operated film camera. It has been powered by compressed air
Pneumatics
Pneumatics is a branch of technology, which deals with the study and application of use of pressurized gas to effect mechanical motion.Pneumatic systems are extensively used in industry, where factories are commonly plumbed with compressed air or compressed inert gases...
pumped before filming into the camera with a simple hand pump, similar to the one we still use to pump bicycle tires
Bicycle pump
A bicycle pump is a type of positive-displacement pump specifically designed for inflating bicycle tires. It has a connection or adapter for use with one or both of the two most common types of valves used on bicycles, Schrader or Presta...
. Filming with Aeroscope, a cameraman did not have to turn the crank to advance the material filming, as in all cameras of that time, so he could operate the camera with both hands, holding the camera and controlling the focus. This made it possible to film with the Aeroscope hand-held in most difficult circumstances, as well as made possible to film from the airplanes
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
, also for the military purposes. Camera carried 400 feet (121.9 m) of 35mm film
35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
and could work without pumping for up to 10 minutes. The Aeroscope was known for its simplicity and reliability.
Popularity
Hundreds of light and relatively compact Aeroscope cameras were used by the British War Office for the combat cameramen on the battlefields of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and later by all newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
cameramen all over world, until the late 1920s. Aeroscope has been used among others by Arthur Herbert Malins recognized by Kelly (1997, Page 60) as “the most famous of the war cinematographers” who used it at the battle of the Somme. As several of the cameramen died filming from the firing lines Aeroscope got a name of camera of death.
In 1928 Prószyński
Kazimierz Prószynski
Kazimierz Prószyński was a Polish inventor active in the field of cinema. He patented his first film camera, called Pleograph , before the Lumière brothers, and later went on to improve the cinema projector for the Gaumont company, as well as invent the widely used hand-held Aeroscope...
built an improved version of his camera, with an air pressure meter, but the more practical spring cameras like Eyemo
Eyemo
The Eyemo is a 35 mm motion-picture film camera which was manufactured by the Bell & Howell Co. of Chicago.-Background:Designed and first manufactured in 1925, it was for many years the most compact 35 mm motion-picture film camera of the hundred foot capacity...
and later Bolex
Bolex
Bolex is a Swiss company that manufactures motion picture cameras and lenses, the most notable products of which are in the 16 mm and Super 16 mm formats. The Bolex company was initially founded by Jacques Bogopolsky in 1927. Bolex is derived from his name. He had previously designed cameras for...
took over. However, even by the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, some of the improved Aeroscope cameras were in use by the British combat cameramen.
External links
- Photograph of the Aeroscope camera by National Media Museum, United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- Profile of Kazimierz Prószyński at "Who is Who of Victorian Cinema"
- "The Cameraman Who Filmed The Western Front", by Dr George Bailey, 2006, Published in Mars & Clio, the Bulletin of the British Commission for Military History, Summer 2006.
- "Waging The Movie Battle on the European Powers" by Ernest A. Dench, The Macmillan Company, New York 1915 (now in the Public Domain)