Information currently available
From existing websites and books
The current web sites and books suggest an initial production date of between 1933 and 1935 and known serial numbers starting between 7500 and 7509, and with cameras below 9400 being identified by having PAILLARD BOLEX impressed into the leather.
I believe it should be possible to firm up certain facts and rectify or clarify others, which I hope will give a clearer picture.
Information from items in my own collection
To start the ball rolling here is some information that I have gleaned from items in my own collection.
1. A test report from the magazine HOME MOVIES AND HOME TALKIES dated May 1935. As you can see the name PAILLARD BOLEX is not on the camera. In the same edition there is an advert by CINEX LIMITED, a London based company which states “At long last the Paillard Camera is about to make its appearance on the British market” This advert uses the 2 exterior photographs from the test report. I think we can assume that the camera’s development had been known about for some time and that the test, allowing for publishing times, would have been conducted no later than April 1935
Left: Scanned page from 'Home Movies and Home Talkies', May 1935
Right: Larger image of the same picture
Below: Advert from same source
From the June 1935 edition to the May 1936 edition there are a number of adverts offering the camera for sale and all use one or both of the exterior photos in their adverts.
2. A photograph of an H16 from my collection with the serial number 7530. This as you can see does not have PAILLARD BOLEX on it. The only identification on the camera is around the tripod bush where it says “PAILLARD SWISS MADE”
You can see the area of slight discolouration, this is where an external frame counter was fitted (obviously as an after market)
Left: Picture taken from 'Home Movies and Home Talkies' June 1936
Below: Photo of my H9 with the same markings
A picture of a H16 with a reported serial number of 7654
3. In the June 1936 edition there is a short report announcing the introduction of the “VISUAL FOCUSSING DEVICE”. This is accompanied by a photograph which now shows the name “PAILLARD BOLEX” embossed into the leather and appears identical with an H9 serial number 9133 in my collection.
4. Recently an H16 with a reported serial number of 8831 which appeared to have “PAILLARD BOLEX” embossed thereon was sold on E Bay. A search of various auction houses shows an H16 with a serial number given as 7654 being sold in 2006. This camera has ‘PAILLARD BOLEX” embossed into the leather. (Another H16 was sold in 1995 with a reported serial number of 8772 although there is no photograph of
this)
The two photos above relate to a H16, serial number 8778, courtesy of the Michael Herridge collection
5. So here is what can be safely assumed/proved:
a. At least 1 camera was in the UK most likely by April 1935
b. Some knowledge of the development of the camera was available for a length of time prior to this. (perhaps this explains the references to 1933)
c. Serial numbers commenced at the very least at 7510
d. Not all cameras below 9400 have “PAILLARD BOLEX” embossed in the leather.
6. Here is what I would like to find out:
If anyone has any H Series camera below 9400, could they please forward details to me (via the contact page)
7. To date I have identified 5 different styles of logo plus no logo, these are shown below and details of the style are now included on the table
8. Listed below are details of all H series cameras below 9400, currently known to me
(the gaps are for future additions)
ALSO
8. To give as complete a picture as possible of early H production it would be nice to here from anyone who has or knows of any H9 immaterial of its age, and any H8 below serial number 17145, which I have in my collection. I hope during the next few weeks to add information with regards to a different style of ‘PAILLARD BOLEX’ impressed into the leather, the ‘ERRTEE’ brand name under which some Bolex’s were sold and also question whether any H8’s were made before serial number 9400.
Credit must be given to the following who have inspired me to look further into this area of H production.
In alphabetical order they are.
a. Andrew Alden and his 2 books “A Bolex History” and “Bolex Bible”
b. Jurgen Lossau and his 2 books “Movie Cameras” and “The Complete Catalog Of Movie Cameras”
c. A.J. Surgenor who wrote the “Bolex Guide” back in 1953 and which was the subject of 6 editions,
the last being in 1961.
d. Michael Teasdale who runs the “Bolex Collector” website which sadly seems to have been inactive
for the last 6 or so months – I hope his is alright.
The above are all excellent reference material and a jolly good read and the authors are to be congratulated on uncovering so much information, I hope any little bit I can contribute will be as equally valuable.
FINALLY
9. I am doing this purely to benefit myself and current and future collectors of these fine cameras. I am not trying to sell any cameras nor am I trying to purchase any. I am a collector not a user so if you have any technical questions I am more than likely not going to be able to answer them but I can probably point you in the right direction. Also I do not want to get into offering valuations, E Bay is the best place for that. If you feel that you can contribute in any way, no matter how small, I would welcome an e mail (or even a letter). Photographs of cameras together with serial numbers or magazine/book articles would be very useful. I will not publish any personal details but will give credit where credit is due or requested. Should enough information be received to justify it, I will incorporate some sort of time line database. If you are unable to offer any information but just want to exchange views or opinions on early Bolex’s or any aspect of cine camera collecting I will be happy to correspond.
Richard
