Mid 20th Century "Sea Hunt" Underwater Cinema Camera Housing With Tripod

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Offered here for your consideration is this circa 1950s Bolex - Paillard Swiss Made 16mm underwater motion picture camera housing … Read more Offered here for your consideration is this circa 1950s Bolex - Paillard Swiss Made 16mm underwater motion picture camera housing on a mid century Majestic crank up metal tripod with a geared tripod head usable for display purposes.

This housing has connection to the 1950's SEA HUNT, TV program.

Showing the scars of underwater cinematography during its professional working life, this wonderful display piece will look good in both a residential or commercial / industrial decor application.

The camera housing had been re sprayed at one point in the past and has the original lens viewing port and hand wind crank and handles in place. An odd and wonderful artifact of the underwater cinematography technology of the mid 20th century. It can still take a Bolex camera (not included) and shoot underwater films with a basic service done first.

The Majestic tripod and geared head is well patinated, vintage (shows some black respray to legs) and also circa mid 20th century. The tripod will crank up to achieve an overall display height for the camera housing of up to 68 inches.

This MODEL underwater camera housing was used, on screen, in the mid 1950s TV series, "Sea Hunt" starring Lloyd Bridges as Mike Nelson, a former US Navy 'Frogman.'

We have documentation that this MODEL CAMERA HOUSING appears on screen in the Sea Hunt Episode “Proof of Guilt”.

That episode is listed as Call # DB 643, Release #1072, Production #57B.

It was released on August 16, 1959.

The images, clearly show Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) with a Bolex underwater housing in hand.

We can certify that "A" Bolex underwater housing did appear on screen in the episode referenced, but we do not know absolutely that the Bolex housing that appeared on screen was in fact the housing we are offering here. 'Hear say' tells us it may very well be, but without serial numbers of both pieces, we cannot know for sure.

Note that the Sea Hunt prop department added a sunshade to the front of the housing to give it more of an appearance as a "camera", but in actual shooting these sunshades were not used.

This 1959 Sea Hunt episode is also recognized as the first TV program to show an interracial kiss.
It was between Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) and his Asian co-star Nobu McCarthy (Atsumi).

Any statements of provenance or authenticity represents The Firm's studied opinion but it shall be understood by all parties concerned that this opinion is not to be considered a guarantee of its accuracy nor will it create any liability on the part of The Firm or officers of said Firm arising out of the reliance on the information supplied herein.

A wonderful display package for a filmmaker, underwater aficionado, Sea Hunt fan or unique sculpture collector. Great for the pool house, cabana or bar at the dock. Can be displayed outdoors as it is "waterproof."

Note: we have several other vintage underwater camera housings for a great 'instant' collection opportunity.

As with all of our pieces, a signed and sealed "Certificate of Authenticity" is included with your purchase.

Dimensions stated are approximate. Please contact us for exact measurements.

the antique is sold with a signed and sealed Certificate of Authenticity suitable for framing.

About CinemaAntiques:

CinemaAntiques has dedicated workshops, warehouses and galleries in Dallas Texas USA where we prepare, display and sell our rare Motion Picture equipment antiques.
Our Cinema Antiques are perfect for display in residential, industrial and museum settings. Collectors and museums worldwide are some of our clients. Our antiques also offer a unique sculpture look that is one of a kind and awe inspiring.
We offer one of the most complete and accurately curated selections of authentic Cinema Antiques, for sale, in the world. Many of our items were used in actual Hollywood Feature Motion Pictures, and we can only imagine the Movie Stars and entertainment Giants that paraded in front of these lights and cameras. As decorative “sculpture” or authentic Hollywood Cinema and Entertainment Memorabilia, our Cinema Antiques offer both a collectible and historical piece of the Hollywood Movie Industry, while at the same time presenting as an artistic and industrial piece of sculpture for your home, business or collection.
We offer a signed and sealed Certificate of Authenticity with all antique items sold.
We have been active collectors and curators of vintage Motion Picture Equipment for over 49 years. During this time we have amassed a superb and rare ongoing collection of antique: movie cameras, Hollywood studio lights, film studio audio / microphones and other highly collectible artifacts of the Hollywood Film Production Industry.
We have been selling collectible Cinema Antiques since 1969 and are experts in the field. We have done certified cinema movie equipment appraisals for Banks, have served as Expert Witnesses in the legal system and have given our expert guidance to various museums.
We specialize in CERTIFIED Cinema Antiques and Artifacts Circa 1900 to 1969 and beyond, representing the Art Nouveau, Machine Age, Art Deco, Industrial Age and Mid Century Periods.
All of our antiques are guaranteed to be as described and photographed.
Due to the special nature of rare and artifact antiques, we can make no claim for the suitability of any Cinema Antique or item, for your intended purposes and use and we remind our clients that all antiques are subject to prior sale.
NOTE:
Due to the nature of online photo reproduction we cannot be responsible for exact photographic color, hue, contrast and flash and non flash exposure accuracy in our photos. While we do our best to display photos that are as accurate as possible, our photos may or may not depict the absolute EXACT hue or color tone of our antiques due to the many variables in image photography, image exporting, image uploading and viewer monitor accuracy. Please ask about color tone and hue BEFORE buying, if this is a concern!
NOTE:
In the interest of antique presentation and historical accuracy, we do not alter or modify our electrical, optical, mechanical or electronic antiques, with the exception of some vintage light fixtures (which we DO correctly convert internally to modern electrical working household standards). Therefore some electrical and mechanical items MAY or may not perform and operate. We sell these as accurate display and collectible antique items. We suggest that these artifacts be used for display and not be operated. Please ask for more details on operability of our electrical and mechanical antiques if operability is a concern.
We are ALWAYS here to help and offer many options for the proper presentation of your Cinema Antiques. Chairish sells electronic items only with the display as the intended use. The electronic elements are not guaranteed to be in working order by Chairish. See less