ULTRA SPEED MECHANISM

Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, Illinois 1924 - 1956

Introduced by December, 1924 as their Ultra Speed Mechanism, Bell & Howell's high-speed movement for their 2709 35mm motion picture camera would later be referred to as the Check Pawl Super-Speed Movement and the Ultra-Speed Attachment in company advertisements and literature. Nearing the end of its production run, it was also being referred to as the "check-pawl ultra-speed mechanism" in Camera Equipment Company's Catalog of Motion Picture and Television Equipment for 1956.

The movement's gear-driven design was covered under Patent No. 1,509,556 granted to Albert S. Howell of Chicago, Illinois on September 23, 1924 and assigned to the Bell & Howell Company. The patent's application was filed for on September 8, 1921, indicating that the design was conceived at least three years prior:

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Patent No. 1,767,846, also granted to Albert S. Howell on June 24, 1930 and assigned to the Bell & Howell Company, further improved upon the initial patent:

Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

This second patent was secured more than two years after the Check Pawl Super-Speed's March, 1928 introduction. Some examples of the movement have reportedly been seen with patent pending markings, indicating the movement was being manufactured for some period prior to September 23, 1924.

The Check Pawl Super-Speed movement could be fitted to any standard 2709 and per the company's advertisements, registered the film at the aperture without the slightest variation in frame line, at eight times the normal speed or better. Complete and factory installed at a cost of $1,000, it was an alternative to the Bell & Howell 2709's standard speed Unit I Shuttle movement. Representing about $15,000 in 2020 dollars, gives one a better appreciation for just how premium this option was at the time.

This earlier example with Serial No. 187, has no patent pending markings and doesn't specify a patent date in the space provided for one on the manufacturer's "shield" style tag:

Bell & Howell's Ultra Speed Mechanism in any of its various names, is believed to have been offered through the end of the 2709's production in the late 1950's. It's not seen very often today.

From the American Cinematographer, December, 1924

From the American Cinematographer, March, 1928