Aeroscope was a type of

compressed air Compressed air is air kept under a pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. Compressed air in vehicle tires and shock absorbers are commonly used for improved traction and reduced vibration. Compressed air is an important medium for t ...

camera for making films, constructed by Polish inventor

Kazimierz Prószyński Kazimierz Prószyński (4 April 1875 – 13 March 1945) was a Polish inventor active in the field of cinematography. He patented his first film camera, called Pleograph, before the Auguste and Louis Lumière, Lumière brothers, and later went o ...

in 1909 (French patent from 10 April 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 Polish inventor

, Aeroscope was the first successful hand-held operated film camera. It was powered by

pumped before filming into the camera with a hand pump similar to a bicycle pump. A crank was not needed to advance the loaded film unlike other cameras of the time. The camera could then be operated with both hands: holding the camera and controlling the focus. This made it possible to film with the Aeroscope hand-held in difficult field circumstances, from airplanes, and for military purposes. The Aeroscope carried of 35mm film and, once pressurised, could work with no further 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 The War Office has referred to several British government organisations throughout history, all relating to the army. It was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, at ...

for the combat cameramen on the battlefields of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and by all

newsreel A newsreel is a form of short documentary film, containing news, news stories and items of topical interest, that was prevalent between the 1910s and the mid 1970s. Typically presented in a Movie theater, cinema, newsreels were a source of cu ...

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 The Eyemo is a 35mm movie film, 35 mm Movie camera, 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 ...

and later

Bolex Bolex International S. A. is a Swiss manufacturer of motion picture cameras based in Yverdon located in Canton of Vaud, the most notable products of which are in the 16 mm and Super 16 mm formats. Originally Bol, the company was founded ...

took over. However, even by the beginning of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, some of the improved Aeroscope cameras were in use by the British combat cameramen.

References

{{reflist

External links

Photograph of the Aeroscope camera
by

National Media Museum The National Science and Media Museum (formerly The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, 1983–2006 and then the National Media Museum, 2006–2017), located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, is part of the national Science Museum ...

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

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)
Film and video technology Movie cameras Polish inventions Science and technology in Poland

Background

Popularity

See also

References

External links