Emitron Camera Truck

[peter scott]

This camera truck has me puzzled. Can anyone explain how it operated? If the tiller were to turn the rear wheel by 90 degrees then the two front wheels would also turn by 90 degrees so it's difficult to see how it could move forwards.

   

Peter

[ppppenguin]

Yes, it's bit of a puzzle. Where is that photo from? It's not one I recall seeing before, though my recall is far from perfect.

[Mike Watterson]

Two "taps" at the front lock/unlock the wheels and also looks like the chain can be easily unfastened to change wheel alignment?

Designed by a plumber or Heath Robinson?

[beamcurrent]

The chain seen running around the pivot shafts of the three wheels indicate the wheels can be rotated either all together or unlocked to give 1 or two on the chain drive to give steering/crabbing/rotation options, much like a modern pedestal.

It is early and complex for a home brew and I have not seen it before. It could be an import from the film world but the cable skirt around the wheels is a television thing. Film cameras tend not to have much in the way of cables.

Brian.

[peter scott]

Thanks for all your replies. During lock-down started to actually look at Facebook groups. The platform is dreadful and only for people who want to post something and forget all about it thereafter but none the less there are some interesting posts at times.

I don't know anything about the origin of the photo but I'll ask.

https://tinyurl.com/yxevsr66

Peter

[peter scott]

The photo appears to be from a completely random set of images called the BBC Archive.

This appears to show the same truck.

[ppppenguin]

Lots of interesting images on that site.

One point about those photos is that as late as 1949 the BBC still seemed to be using original Emitron cameras.

[peter scott]

Hi Jeffrey,

I had thought the camera in the initial photo was a short neck Emitron but taking on board your comment about 1949 I looked more closely and I think it was a long neck as is clearer in the Stanwyck photo.

Peter

[peter scott]

This cart also appears in a shot from 1939.