What is an MSM 5815?

[Geffen Avraham]

The February 1993 edition of the ASC magazine mentions a series of cameras offered by MSM Design, the company of Martin S Mueller.

It mentions the 8812 VistaVision camera, the 8870 8-perf 65mm Iwerks camera, and the 9801 IMAX camera.

There is, however, a fourth camera mentioned as well: the 5815, which is described as "65mm, 5, 8, and 15 per 1 fps".

This confuses me a bit. Is this truly a 65mm camera with variable pulldown between 5, 8, and 15 perf formats - that can only shoot 1 frame per second?

What could possibly be the purpose of this camera? The only application I can guess is Ron Fricke, who used custom 65mm time-lapse cameras for Baraka.

Then why the variable format? I was under the impression that Baraka was all 5-perf.

[Geffen Avraham]

I have found no pictures from this camera, but a magazine from it is currently found on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256389495557

[Rosc Oshe]

MSM built single frame film recorder multi format cameras with interchangeable movements. The photo above is the 65mm magazine from his recorder. I believe Marty built 5, 8 and 15 perf movements for the recorders.

 

 

[Rosc Oshe]

MSM built single frame film recorder multi format cameras with exchangeable movements. The photo above is the 65mm magazine. I believe Marty built 5, 8 and 15 perf movements. 

Here is the 8/65 movement