Can we talk Bell and Howell Foton?

[someonenameddavid]

The last great American made film camera? ROF is where it's at

Surely the Simmons Omega was later, as was the Graflex XL, although I dont know where the bodies were made, lenses were German. Some of the very last Miranda scientific slrs were made (I.e. Assembled) in the USA.www

 

[Ambro51]

.....I think the bodies were made in Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory. ;-/ Borh are hideous monstrosities.

 

[Ambro51]

And yes as mentioned, this first variety has a smooth base. I’ve read that on an early production model the two patent numbers are found,, possibly on the baseplate as my second version with ribbedcbase has no patent numbers. The patents go back much further than the appearance of the foton. One is from 1935, the second filed in 1938 and granted in 1940. Bell and Howell stated it had a ten year development program and they spent one million dollars on bringing the camera to the public. There are over five hundred parts in the camera ! Life magazine was a major buyer, as were many sports photographers. second version serial number 7211XX stamped under wind key

 

[eckmanmj]

My pro tip: after loading the film & closing the back, leave the rewind knob in the extended (rewind) position so that you can see that it's turning in order to confirm that the film is loading onto the takeup spool properly for the 1st 3 shots (like looking at the dots on the takeup knob on an M3 or Barnack Leica).

Some of my photos taken with (& of) my Fotons: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/bellhowellfotonc194850

This is an awesome tip! I am working on a review of the Foton and would like to include you tip and name. Is that something you'd be willing to share?

Also, by any chance, do you happen to have a scanned image of the warranty card that came with the Fotons when they were new? I've heard people mention them, but I've never seen one.

Thanks!

-Mike

 

[furcafe]

This is an awesome tip! I am working on a review of the Foton and would like to include you tip and name. Is that something you'd be willing to share?

Also, by any chance, do you happen to have a scanned image of the warranty card that came with the Fotons when they were new? I've heard people mention them, but I've never seen one.

Thanks!

-Mike

Knock yourself out. I don't have a warranty card for either of my Fotons & have never seen one. The lifetime warranty may be mentioned in the instruction manual (I'll have to take a look when I get home).

 

[PhilKaskela]

Hi @Ambro51, how are you getting on with yours?
You've inspired me to dig out mine and put a roll through it this weekend.
The shutter and build and picture quality are rock solid, even after 75+ years.

Mine has some problems though: rangefinder is almost unusable and the viewfinder is missing its rear lens, leading me to use a Walz viewfinder (very similar to the leica viooh) and mostly zone focusing. The hot shoe doesn't work with my modern flash either.
I really like the camera, but those frustrations usually send me back to my leica iiif.