Is it a 2A or the model before?

[Henri Titchen]

Hi,

 

I have recently come across an early Arri 35mm camera. Is it a IIA?

 

Some differences from the 2B are:

-The claw is steel

-The round plate on the side of the camera has only Arriflex and not IIB or IIC engraved on it.

-The turret has the focal length of the lenses engraved in the turret levers so that you can see what lens is used.

-There is no cover over the claw (I don't know if it is just missing or was never present).

 

Some other miscellaneous info.

-An Arri 2B door fits OK...not perfectly but 98%

-The serial number is near the turret at the bottom

-The turret is all Arri standard mount.

-The motor drive gear is the same as a 2B

 

Is it a IIA?

 

Thanks From,

Henry.

Edited May 21, 2007 by Henry Titchen

[Henri Titchen]

Further to my previous post. Here are some photos of the mystery 35mm Arri.

 

Here is a photo of the claw mechanism. (Click on the thumbnail for larger image)

 

Here is a photo of the mechanism (Click on the thumbnail for larger image)

 

The door shown at the top of this photo is not from the camera.

 

Henry.

[Christian Appelt]

This is definitely the old movement, so the camera's not a IIA, most likely an Arri II. Could you post a picture of the closed camera front/operator's side?

 

Starting with IIA, the heart-shaped excenter drive was used for all Arri IIx cameras. Your camera should have a 120-degree-mirror shutter, the later 180-degree shutter came later with model IIA.

 

Where did you find that camera, and what serial number does it have?

Edited May 24, 2007 by Christian Appelt

[John Sprung]

The most important thing is the serial number. If it's less than 2000, what you have is a Model I. I saw a Model I once, number 1485 (or maybe it was 1483). They were produced between 1937 and whenever the RAF and 8th Air Force bombed Arri -- probably in 1943 or 44. The equipment that made them and all the spare parts were destroyed, so you're SOL if anything goes wrong with a Model I. The Model II is pretty much the same camera, re-designed from memory. A lot of the dimensions are close, but not the same.

 

 

 

-- J.S.

[Henri Titchen]

Thanks John,

 

I guess then it is a model "I" as the serial number is 142X.

 

Thanks from,

Henry.

[John Sprung]

Yes, it's definitely a Model I. What do you plan to do with it? If you want to sell it, I can put you in touch with a collector or two.

 

 

 

-- J.S.