Title: Vintage Cinema Camera Test & Calibration Kit - 1950s/60s Custom UK Field Case
Description:
For sale is a vintage, custom-machined technical test and calibration kit designed for motion picture film cameras. This is an unbranded, professional-tier engineering unit built in the UK around the 1950s or 1960s, likely constructed by a studio camera department or specialized rental house.
The entire kit is housed in a textured black flight case with metal corners, latches, and an adjustable leather shoulder strap. The interior features custom-fit mahogany wood storage blocks, felt padding, and metal retention clips tailored to hold each tool securely.
Included Components:
- Mechanical Alignment Jig: An L-shaped aluminium plate with thumbscrews and a matching steel alignment rod, used for physical camera positioning and parallax viewfinder adjustment.
- Lens Tubes & Hoods: Two machined aluminium extension cylinders. One serves as a lens hood; the other features precision threads to mount directly onto a vintage cinema prime lens.
- Optical Filters: A large assortment of circular and square glass filters in protective plastic sleeves. Includes colour correction gels labeled by "Mired Shift" values (Blue and Red series), specialised technical "Slit/Cell" filters, a 1-Dioptre close-up lens, and a circular polariser.
- Operational Cards: Original typed checklists and reference charts detailing camera prep steps (gate cleaning, ASA speed, frames per second, motor winding, and parallax adjustment).
- Accessories: A coiled fabric measuring tape stored in a dedicated wood block, plus a vintage bottle of Johnsons of Hendon lens cleaning fluid
- Condition:
Excellent vintage, functional condition. The aluminum components show minimal wear, and the thumbscrews operate smoothly. The mahogany framing is solid with minimal scuffing. Glass filters are clean, free of heavy scratching, and retain their original paper inserts. The external leather strap is intact with no dry rotting.
Sold as a historical photographic collectible.
Please check all of the photos to ensure you are happy with the overall condition