Dating of first Bell & Howell Autoload projector

[Simon Wyss]

Hi, everybody

In spite of heavy googling the subject I am unable to pin down when Bell & Howell would have introduced their first self-threading 8mm projector. I find this a quite a thing since autoload projectors make for a turning point in the general development of home movie machines. Could anybody tell the year for instance? Many thanks for considering

[Maurice Leakey]

Simon

I've got a Wallace Heaton Blue Book 1966-67 which lists four 8mm Bell & Howell autoload projectors:-

Autoload 1 £38
Autoload 3 £49
Autoload 4 £64
Autiload 11 Model 266 £69

Wallace Heaton was a very famous photographic shop in New Bond Street, London, W1.

Rather odd that four models should be available from Bell & Howell.

Autothread may have been around for some time before the above edition was printed. I do have an earlier book, their Cine Apparatus 1954. Autothread had not arrived then.



Maurice

[Simon Wyss]

Thanks, Maurice. I think to be able to narrow it to around 1958. Evidence still missing

[Richard C. Patchett]

Hears just a few
If you need more Just let me know
Bell & Howell Auto load
545 1964-1969
545T 1969-1971
550 1963-1969
550 1964-1969
550T 1961-1971
552 1962-1969
552 EXT 1969-1971
552T 1969-1971
562A mid 1960s-mid 1970
566 1964-1969

[Dominique De Bast]

This is dated 1961

[Maurice Leakey]

I should point out that Richard's listing of Bell & Howell models are all 16mm Filmosounds, whereas Simon's original question referred to 8mm auto-threaders.


Maurice

[Richard C. Patchett]

OH well Hope some B&H 16mm collectors
Also would like to know

[Simon Wyss]

Found it. There are reproductions of the model 353 manual available via internet. On the last page we find the small imprint 358 meaning March of 1958. So that enigma has been shed light on. The projectors would have reached the market during summer.