Wilart Professional, 35mm Cinema Camera, One Off Factory Prototype, Circa 1918-19. As Sculpture

Submitted for your approval, a one of a kind Wilart Professional Circa 1918-1919, 35mm hand crank motion picture camera.

Wilart motion picture cameras were made in New Rochelle New York, USA and were a leading professional 35mm motion picture camera brand in the early century.

Their Professional Model cameras were single lens port units and Circa 1918-1919 the factory created a prototype camera for a future multi lens turret model of the Professional Model, seen in this rare example. This camera has very sophisticated features for the early 20th century and the ‘one off’ prototype design for a multi lens turret, that never got built, as a “Professional” model, is an artifact that no one else can ever have.

This camera carries the physical prototype turret design but was executed only as a single port turret in this early design stage. On the underside of the existing camera turret casting are engineering pencil indications for future machining of the 4 lens turret.

The turret equipped models were finally offered in the Wilart News Camera circa 1923 and the Wilart Standard Camera circa 1927, but never in the Professional Model. Very few 4 lens turret models of the Wilart Standard were ever made and cannot be found.

Wilart ceased operations as camera manufacturers in circa 1927.

The condition of this Wilart Professional is pristine with perfect leathers (has been recovered in correct finish leather back some 25 years ago), original correct lens and original gauges / dials, original correct hand crank and two complete original 400 foot film magazine chambers. The camera cranks smoothly and is a spectacular display / collection piece representing a camera brand that worked extensively in the early movie industry.

While many movie cameras are rare, this is the only one we have found or know about of this Professional Model and it is a one of a kind example. The rarest you can find. The only non original parts on this camera are the leather covers correctly re done. Everything else is original Circa 1918-19.

This is one of the rarest cameras ever to be found and offered.

Museums please take note.

The period tripod shown is included with this item, and we have a superior collection of other correct tripod and head examples available. Please inquire if you desire a different correct period tripod upon which to display this fine artifact.

Additional photos available for potential buyers.

~Like artifacts of an ancient civilization –
these rare legends
of early Motion Picture and related
production equipment technology –
have a secure and appreciating
place in history.~