The DuMont ELECTRONICAM

Well here is a rare beauty!
Used before video tape, this camera was suppose to be the answer to a Kinescope. For you "young" engineers out there, a Kinescope was simply a film camera that shot a video monitor. It was the only way they had to preserve shows before video tape was invented. The quality always depended on how good the CRT was on the tv set. DuMont invented this Electronicam. It had either a 16mm or a 35mm film camera inside the blimp. The blimp was used to keep the noise of the film camera from getting into the studio mics. The show was shot normally with three of these cameras.
The video could be controlled by the Video Engineer, and everyone in the control room could see all the cameras in real time on the set. Impossible with film only cameras in the 50s. (later on, video assist was invented).

If you have ANY information on this camera, and where they were used, please email me. I want to do a complete history on the Electronicam system.

chuck@pharis-video.com

I just got this beautiful camera in from a good friend of mine back East. I owe Carey Williams BIG TIME for shipping me this camera. The video camera (DuMont 124-B) on the side has been mine for many years. I always wanted the film camera and blimp. Carey made my DAY! Now I have to come up with something to trade him for the camera!

Don't they make a great unit! I plan to display this camera somewhere here in Hollywood next year.

This camera has no lens. I need some BAD!!! I'll trade something really great to the first person who can find me a lens or lenses for this camera!!!
I also need the lens mounting board.

I have the complete camera chain. CCUs, Power Supply, and all cable. Someday I hope to get this great camera running!
I also need a viewfinder shade for the video camera. HELP!!!!!

Here is the REAL DuMont Electronicam doing Captain Video at WABD Ch-5 NY. That was the pilot station of Alan B. DuMont. Thanks go to Jan Lowry for this information!
Also to Dicky Howett for this great photo!
I wonder if my camera came from that station?

Hmmmmm, kinda looks neat in B&W!

Here is how the DuMont Electronicam system was hooked up.

Here is a rare shot from the Honeymooners show.
Photo taken in October, 1955.
Note the three DuMont Electronicams in use.

OK, here we GO! I have taken a lot of photos of the inside of my camera. Click on the link below to see them!

More DuMont Electronicam photos!!

Here are some original photos from the DuMont Studios!!!!

Last modified on Sunday, October 12, 2003