Alain LeTourneau Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 I'm working on a (general) historical timeline for the 16mm format, starting from Kodak's introduction of 16mm filmstock in 1923. The timeline will include the introduction and discontinuation of various tools of the 16mm filmmaking trade - filmstocks, cameras, editing, projectors. This timeline will eventually be posted on the web. I'm starting piecemeal with Eclair/Aaton, and figured that Nathan Milford and others on this list could fill in the blanks for me. The blanks being rather large at this point (but one has to start somewhere). mid-to-late 1960s? - Eclair NPR, ACL 1971 - prototype for Aaton 7A 1973 - introduction of 7A LTR LTR 54 XTR XTR plus XTR prod A Minima There is obviously more to add, and many details are currently left out. This is where those of you with some information and knowledge can chime in and help construct this history. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Best, Alain LeTourneau Portland, Oregon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Nathan Milford Posted September 19, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 19, 2004 1974 to 1982 - Aaton LTR (#250 to #950) - Most bodes were 16mm only - 32fps Top Speed - Mechanical Drive for Mags - Optional Light Meter - Optional Relay optics for VR 30 tube tap. 1982 to 1985 - Aaton 54LTR (#950 to #1300) - 54fps Top Speed - Super 16 - Optional Light Meter - Optional Relay optics for VR 30 tube tap. 1986 to 1992 - Aaton XTR (#1300 to #1785) - 54fps Top Speed - Magnetic Drive - Super 16 - Light Meter - Relay Optics for VR30 Tub Tap 1992 to 1994 - Aaton X0plus (#1785 to #1900) - 60fps Top Speed - Magentic Drive - Super 16 - Screw-in 15mm front rods - Designed to be upgraded to the XTRplus - Optional port for integrated CCD video tap 1992 to 1994 - Aaton XTRplus (#1785 to #1900) - 60fps Top Speed - Magentic Drive - Super 16 - Screw-in 15mm front rods - Light Meter - Integrated CCD video tap - Aaton Code - LCD Side Display 1994 to present - Aaton X0plus (#1900 and above) - 75fps Top Speed (Tri-Phase Motor) - Magenetic Drive - Super 16 - Screw-in 15mm front rods - Lower power consumption - Upgradable to XTRplus - Optional port for integrated CCD video tap 1994 to present - Aaton XTRplus (#1900 and above) - 75fps Top Speed (Tri-Phase Motor) - Magenetic Drive - Super 16 - Screw-in 15mm front rods - Lower power consumption - Light Meter - Integrated CCD video tap - AatonCode - Side Display 1994 to present - Aaton XTRprod (#1900 and above) - 75fps Top Speed (Tri-Phase Motor) - Magenetic Drive - Super 16 - Screw-in 15mm front rods - Lower power consumption - Light Meter - Integrated CCD video tap - AatonCode - Illuminated Side Display - Built in speed control in .001fps increments - Variable shutter These are sort of rough as there are grey areas where upgrades have been performed where you have amalgamations such as the XC, LTR-X, XTR-j and what not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Nathan Milford Posted September 19, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 19, 2004 This guy might be able to give you more info on the NPR: http://members.aol.com/npr16mm/ For the ACL: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/Super16ACL/history.htm Jean-Pierre and Aaton: http://www.aaton.com/about/history.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 20, 2004 Author Share Posted September 20, 2004 Nathan, Thanks a million for taking the time to compile this information. A couple things here... you wrote: This guy might be able to give you more info on the NPR: http://members.aol.com/npr16mm/ I have attempted to contact this person several times now and each time had my messages bounce back. Has anyone else had this problem? It's a shame as I'd really like to talk to this person. I really love the site and have found it incredibly useful. The other thing is that I sent a message off to Aaton so I'll see what they have to say. I've always found it odd that with written information about Eclair people usually just say the 1960s. I've never found exact dates that the NPR or ACL were introduced. Best, Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manny Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Greetings Alain, Have you tried the eclairacl list on the topica website? you might find something to fill in the gaps. Regards Emmanuel from London Focus Puller ACL and NPR owner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 20, 2004 Author Share Posted September 20, 2004 Greetings Alain, Have you tried the eclairacl list on the topica website? you might find something to fill in the gaps. Thanks Manny. You know I'm signed on to that list and I'd actually forgotten about it. Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 21, 2004 Author Share Posted September 21, 2004 Eclair's history of manufacturing 16mm cameras is proving elusive. I may have to talk with people in the UK and France if anyone has suggestions of people to contact. I know that the company was in business from 1928-1982. And that British producer Henry Saltzman bought the company in 1972/3. This stuff can be found on the web without much effort. Currently, I cannot give specifics more than what's listed below: Eclair NPR - early to mid-1960s Eclair ACL - late 1960s Eclair ACL II - late 1970s/early 1980s (pre-1982) Eclair GV16 (high speed camera)? Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Laurent Andrieux Posted September 23, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 23, 2004 I had the aaton number 20 or so in hands when I was working for the state production agency SFP in Paris, France. May be some technicians in Bry s/Marne still have remeberance of these cameras being introduced. Looks like SFP had the first ones made. You can try to contac them Eclair GV16 (high speed camera)? Yes, it's high speed. GV means Grande Vitesse (High speed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Nathan Milford Posted September 24, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 24, 2004 AHHHHHH! That's what SFP is! I've seen atleast 15 mags come through the shop with the SFP logo on them. Typically older mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 30, 2004 Author Share Posted September 30, 2004 Well, according to a 1983 Alan Gordon Enterprises catalogue there's more to Eclair than... NPR, ACL, ACLII, GV16.... There's also the... EX-16 and Eclair Panarama. 2 models I did not know existed. The Panarama claims to be "the first camera successfully engineered for both 16mm and super 16mm formats". Must have been a pre-1982 camera as I thought that the Aaton LTR54 was the first. Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 I thiunk Eclair announced those cameras but went under before actually releasing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 30, 2004 Author Share Posted September 30, 2004 I thiunk Eclair announced those cameras but went under before actually releasing them. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I thought Eclair went out of business in 1982, yet the Alan Gordon catalogue I have was printed in 1983. I thought that was rather odd as everything I have found said Eclair was in business from 1928-1982 (first in France, the last 10 years in England). Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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