Vinten Model HS3000 35mm High Speed Camera

Made:
1935-1940 in London

Vinten Model HS3000 35mm high speed cine camera, sectioned, 1935-1940. Manufactured by W Vinten Ltd, and displayed at its premises for over forty years. Induction Motor by The British Thomson-Houston Co Ltd, Type KZ.3016, Serial No 54402D. In original display case. Developed for research into balistics. 35mm film with rates up to 3000 exposures per second. Recording time for 400 foot film is two seconds at maximum speed.

This camera uses a very carefully balanced duralumin disc with 48 matched 50mm lenses mounted on its periphery, this disc was rotated at high speed. The film was driven around a revolving gate so that it moved at the same speed and direction as the lenses, to produce a stationary image on the film. A three-phase electric motor drove a heavy flywheel mounted at the back of the camera. Power from this flywheel was transmitted through a friction clutch and three-speed gear box from an Austin car to the lens ring and film drive sprocket.

To reduce fire risk from the nitrate film, the film chamber was filled with nitrogen gas prior to the film run. The size, weight and power of the camera necessitated setting it up on a cast iron bed plate, mounted on an adjustable stand.

Image resolution fell short of the slower HS300 and only a few HS3000s were made.

Details

Category:
Cinematography
Object Number:
2005-5041
Materials:
wood (unidentified), glass, steel (metal), aluminium alloy, plastic (unidentified) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Measurements:
camera: 650 mm x 440 mm x 1310 mm,
type:
high-speed 35mm cine camera
credit:
The National Media Museum, Bradford