Bell & Howell 16mm Filmo 70

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'm looking at getting a Bell & Howell 16mm model 70 (I think the specific variety is either CA or OA - hard to read in the photos). I don't currently know the serviceability of this specific camera. If it needs repair, does anyone have a recommended vendor, and can you speak to the general cost of servicing such a beast?

 

[cmacd123]

a filmo 70 is a model which was made from the 1930s to the 1970s Early ones are only good for 16 frames a second. (silent speed) and require double perf film which is now hard to find.

They are well Built and if working well will last a long time, but of course repairs are problematic at this late date.

 

[cmacd123]

you might want to read up on this article: http://www.tfgtransfer.com/filmo.htm or this one (includes a link to a copy of the manual http://www.intervalometers.com/bh/

even this may be of interest... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmo

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'll look into those resources. I ended up not bidding on the camera in question because it had too many unknowns about it. I'm probably much better off getting something more modern like a Bolex or Arri that is known to be complete and in good working order.

 

[Europan]

FlyingCamera, I do repair motion-picture film cameras. The Bell & Howell Filmo and Eyemo are a class to themselves, you have nitrided steels in them, abrasion resistant. As long as those cameras are oiled, and you can oil them without further ado, you can expose miles of film with one. Other makes cannot be compared to them, a Paillard-Bolex is a mere pile of aluminum before the Filmo, although it has its own refinements.

It is correct that the early Filmo and Eyemo cameras from the twenties run at 8/16 fps only or 16/32. Later models from the early thirties on have the high-speed governor and run 4 through 64 fps. In my eyes the 1931 models are the best, having still the compact three-port turret. When Bell & Howell Co. added the spider turret, magazine, and more stuff the original concept was torpedoed.

If you can’t find anybody who takes your camera for overhaul, I’ll be there. My experience stretches from Paillard-Bolex H, Ciné-Kodak Special, over Pathé WEBO M, Revere 101/103 to the Beaulieu Reflex 16 and others. I can also take care of an ARRIFLEX 16. Workshop with machines, autocollimator, and more

 

[kontrabass888]

FlyingCamera, I do repair motion-picture film cameras. The Bell & Howell Filmo and Eyemo are a class to themselves, you have nitrided steels in them, abrasion resistant. As long as those cameras are oiled, and you can oil them without further ado, you can expose miles of film with one. Other makes cannot be compared to them, a Paillard-Bolex is a mere pile of aluminum before the Filmo, although it has its own refinements.

It is correct that the early Filmo and Eyemo cameras from the twenties run at 8/16 fps only or 16/32. Later models from the early thirties on have the high-speed governor and run 4 through 64 fps. In my eyes the 1931 models are the best, having still the compact three-port turret. When Bell & Howell Co. added the spider turret, magazine, and more stuff the original concept was torpedoed.

If you can’t find anybody who takes your camera for overhaul, I’ll be there. My experience stretches from Paillard-Bolex H, Ciné-Kodak Special, over Pathé WEBO M, Revere 101/103 to the Beaulieu Reflex 16 and others. I can also take care of an ARRIFLEX 16. Workshop with machines, autocollimator, and more

I have two filmo 70 dr cameras one of them got unstable speed, Are you in EU area? I did't find out how to send private message on this website.

 

[Renato Tonelli]

I have used these cameras extensively for professional work (I have 3 of them) - they are absolutely reliable. The U.S. Armed Services used them extensively and Bell&Howell made green 'Army' models. They were used in covering combat situations (Korea, Vietnam); the networks used them as well. There is a photograph of President Kennedy leaving a hotel in Dallas on that fateful day - he is surrounded by reporters and cameramen - the cameramen are using the Filmo. I could go on and on...

Usually, all that is needed to keep them running is a a few drops of oil per few thousand feet of film; The oil that I use is 'Mitchell Camera Oil'. I bought it from Alan Gordon Enterprises in Hollywood, California.

 

[kontrabass888]

I have used these cameras extensively for professional work (I have 3 of them) - they are absolutely reliable. The U.S. Armed Services used them extensively and Bell&Howell made green 'Army' models. They were used in covering combat situations (Korea, Vietnam); the networks used them as well. There is a photograph of President Kennedy leaving a hotel in Dallas on that fateful day - he is surrounded by reporters and cameramen - the cameramen are using the Filmo. I could go on and on...

Usually, all that is needed to keep them running is a a few drops of oil per few thousand feet of film; The oil that I use is 'Mitchell Camera Oil'. I bought it from Alan Gordon Enterprises in Hollywood, California.

I had dropped a lot oil, but it didn't get better,

 

[johnielvis]

The proper place for the lube / cleaning is what you want. Generally when these things start making noise or freeze up it's the shutter that's doing it. Take off the font of the camera--the round part--there is, right in the middle of the turret (for later 3 lens models) or the middle of the round portion a nut--inside that is one side of where the shutter revolves--you open that and that is where the lube goes. if it's seized or making noise, put in a tiny bit of penetrating lube like kroil or liquid wrench or some such-just a litte...if it turns a bit, it will soon turn better and better. You may have to take apart the whole front and get to the other side of the shutter and clean any corrosion or gunk out -- then it'll run like new--see how little you can get away with. If it's running now, then usually a bit of the penetrating lube in that area does the job.

 

[Europan]

For a PM use a member’s name link, click it, and click Start a Conversation in the window that opened.

It takes a little more than just oil to restore such a camera to impeccable functionality. The residues of oil and grease should be removed from the mechanism, sometimes down to the governor where a layman surely is overstrained. I can say that I am a trained mechanician, machinist, and specialist on motion-picture film apparatus having to do with projectors, printers, cameras, viewers, and more since 40 years.

A Filmo 70 which has nothing broken is usually disassembled, cleaned, reassembled, adjusted, and lubricated over four hours. That’d make 360 Swiss Francs with me, about US$370 as of today, net. Afterwards you have a nice instrument with a two years warranty that will run another lifetime. Naturally I check the flange focal distance of each lens port, finder alignment, speeds, upper spindle tension, everything. Sprocket drums can be swapped. The remaining Filmo and Eyemo stocks got sold from Alan Gordon Enterprises to Magna-Tech of Florida last year, so we techs know where to procure parts.

I happen to have a perforator for 16mm strips and I want to acquire tools for it to perforate stock along both edges (2R-3000) as well as Double-Eight (2R-1500). Partnership is invited.

 

[johnielvis]

Yeah, but they're not worth that kind of money, particularly you just want to goof around with them. you can get 80% of the important cleaning done with just addressing the shutter--the rest is pretty much impervious to being dirty (slowing down-wise).

a 35mm eyemo? yes...maybe a pro cla for that...but a 50 dollar filmo? hell no. just buy another till you get one that liquid wrench gets spinnin'.

I got one 2 years ago that had running issues/making noise and slow...few drops of penetrating lube in that shutter...and man, it's STILL going full speed to the end of a wind at any speed.

You gotta be practical!

 

[guangong]

A few years back these was a seller in Florida selling them as army surplus. Complete kit with tools, oil, lenses in a fitted wood and steel case at a great price. Sorry, don’t have name and address at hand. Why buy used if New is availability?

 

[Europan]

There’s a difference between a camera you just oiled and an overhauled one. When I disassemble a camera I look through all parts and clean them. Old grease and oil residues get removed. After reassembly, lubrication, and adjustment I give a two-years warranty on my work. Filmo 70s have steel parts that can be rusty. Optical parts want to be clean. I don’t like that throw-away mentality.