8mm Forum: Fairchild Cinephonic Question

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Topic: Fairchild Cinephonic Question

Richard Bignell
Junior
Posts: 11
From: Kent, England
Registered: Feb 2004

posted November 22, 2014 07:33 AM

I wonder if someone can help with a question about the Fairchild Cinephonic system, which allowed sound recording on Standard 8mm film.

Virtually all the references I've seen about this seem to come from America. Was this system actuall available in the UK at all, and if so, what was the cost of the sound film back then compared to the silent?

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 22, 2014 12:06 PM

Richard,

Fairchild was an American company based in New York. They introduced the Cinephonic eight sound camera in 1960 (released by Ansco). The camera was approximately $250 and the Ansco color/sound 50 foot roll (Double roll, 100 ft total) was $11.00 with processing.

With the introduction of Super 8mm in 1964, the Cinephonic disappeared, right after coming out with a professional model that had a 200' magazine.

Sorry, I don't know about UK availability at the time.

Doug

[ November 26, 2014, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: Douglas Meltzer ]

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Thomas Dafnides
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 247
From: St. Louis, Missouri USA
Registered: Dec 2009

posted November 22, 2014 06:41 PM

If Kodak had simply informed Fairchild of the new format in development, their engineers could of introduced the Cinephonic 200' sound camera in super 8 format for 1965. This would of been a major impetus for the format. As such it would be almost nine more years before there would be a Super 8 sound camera...major mistake on Kodak's part .

[ November 23, 2014, 08:52 PM: Message edited by: Thomas Dafnides ]

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted November 25, 2014 06:11 PM

In 1962, a 50 ft of colour Fairchild Cinephonic film was sold 3 10 0 (the predecimal system...) An extra £1 is mentionned for processing (only for this film) Other makes are advertised on different spools sizes. For example : Agfa color 25 ft spool was 1 7 8 ; Ansco (40 asa) High Speed Colour 25 ft spool was 1 7 6 ; Ferraniacolor 15 din Daylight 25 ft spool was 1 5 4 Gevacolor was the same price ; Ilfochrome 25 was 1 3 4 and Kodachrome Daylight 21 25 ft spool was 1 7 8. I didn't copy all the references but so you have an idea if you're familliar with the predecimal currency, otherwise it is (like for me) impossible to compare anything !

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Dominique

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted November 26, 2014 07:23 AM

The Fairchild Cinéphonic camera is decribed in a French book (Le cinéma sonore d'amateur) published in 1966 (it was the 4th edition) page 113, so it seems it was available in France, too. In the same book, Ferrania advertised for pre stripped (double 8) camerastock (not specifically for the above mentionned camera).

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Dominique

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted November 26, 2014 10:17 AM

My Wallace Heaton Blue Book of 1966-67 states a price of £1.13.6 for pre-striped Ferraniacolor on a 25ft spool of standard 8 film.
For those who are not familiar with UK pre-decimal currency, the price quoted equates to £1.68.

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Maurice

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Ken Finch
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 543
From: Herne Bay, Kent. U.K.
Registered: Oct 2011

posted November 27, 2014 11:37 AM

I do seem to remember it being advertised and mentioned in the "Amateur Cine World", the U.K. amateur film fanatics "Bible". Ken Finch.

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