The Telegraph: Charlie Chaplin's camera takes centre stage

Bruce Calvert · External Since: Nov 22, 2006 Posts: 774

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/22/ncamera122.xml

Charlie Chaplin's camera takes centre stage

By Chris Hastings, Sunday Telegraph

Last Updated: 1:47am BST 23/07/2007

It's a piece of film history touched by greatness. A cine camera used
by film legend Charlie Chaplin will be centre stage again when it is
auctioned at Christie's in London on Wednesday.

Chaplin, the Oscar-winning director of classics such as The Great
Dictator and Modern Times, used the Bell and Howell 2709 during the early
days of his film-making career.

He purchased it in 1918 just one month after he and his brother Sydney
set up Chaplin Studios International. The camera, which cost Chaplin $2,000
is expected to fetch upwards of $180,000 (£87,000).

The camera was not the first or the last 2709 bought by Chaplin. But
it was the only one sold directly to him, rather than to his studio.

Chaplin, who made his screen debut in 1914, was knighted aged 85 for
services to cinema. His career spanned 65 years but he only won one Academy
Award, although he did receive two honorary Oscars.

--
Bruce Calvert
--
Visit the Silent Film Still Archive
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com

David Totheroh · External Since: Jun 03, 2007 Posts: 44

On Jul 23, 11:36 am, "Bruce Calvert" <silentfilmxs... DeleteThis @verizon.net>
wrote:
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/22/ncame...
>
> Charlie Chaplin's camera takes centre stage
>
> By Chris Hastings, Sunday Telegraph
>
> Last Updated: 1:47am BST 23/07/2007
>
> It's a piece of film history touched by greatness. A cine camera used
> by film legend Charlie Chaplin will be centre stage again when it is
> auctioned at Christie's in London on Wednesday.
>
> Chaplin, the Oscar-winning director of classics such as The Great
> Dictator and Modern Times, used the Bell and Howell 2709 during the early
> days of his film-making career.
>
> He purchased it in 1918 just one month after he and his brother Sydney
> set up Chaplin Studios International. The camera, which cost Chaplin $2,000
> is expected to fetch upwards of $180,000 (£87,000).
>
> The camera was not the first or the last 2709 bought by Chaplin. But
> it was the only one sold directly to him, rather than to his studio.
>
> Chaplin, who made his screen debut in 1914, was knighted aged 85 for
> services to cinema. His career spanned 65 years but he only won one Academy
> Award, although he did receive two honorary Oscars.
>
> --
> Bruce Calvert
> --
> Visit the Silent Film Still Archivehttp://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com

Chaplin's camera fails to sell at auction:

http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=58705&in_page_i...&in_a_s

Richard Carnahan · External Since: Jun 01, 2007 Posts: 54

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Bruce Calvert · External Since: Nov 22, 2006 Posts: 774

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/240359

Chaplin camera fails to sell as weak greenback cuts bids

Jul 27, 2007 04:30 AM
Charlie Chaplin's Bell & Howell Co. movie camera failed to sell at a London
auction yesterday because the pound's gains against the dollar deterred U.S.
buyers, Christie's International said.

Christie's valued the 35 millimeter, crank-handle camera, which the silent
film star bought from the factory in 1918, at as much as £90,000, or about
$194,000.

The seller purchased it from relatives of a camera-service agent who
received it as a gift from Chaplin, according to Christie's sales catalog.

"The weakness of the U.S. dollar against sterling and the euro limited
American bidding," Christie's said in a statement.

"The American market has traditionally been very strong for motion picture
equipment, reflecting the status of the film industry in American culture,"
the statement added.

The pound touched $2.0654 two days ago, a 26-year high.

--
Bruce Calvert
--
Visit the Silent Film Still Archive
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com

RachelH · Joined: Mar 24, 2008 Posts: 1

I am new to the forum, but was reading your (David Totheroh's) past post responding to the auction announcement of Chaplin's Bell & Howell 2709B. I completely agree with your comment. As someone researching Chaplin's "use" of this specific camera, I feel it is important to recognize that the cameraman "used" the camera in functional sense - Chaplin's functional "use" of the camera was limited.

By the way, you (David Totheroh) wouldn't happen to be related to Roland Totheroh?

Cheers,

Rachel