FOX FILM CORPORATION FILM CEMENT WELL

Manufactured for Fox Film Corporation, Fort Lee, New Jersey or Hollywood, California 1915-1935

Although unconfirmed, this is believed to be a film cement well, made for the Fox Film Corporation, predecessor to 20th Century Fox.

Fox Film Corporation was formed on February 1, 1915, with their first studio being built in Fort Lee, New Jersey. In 1917, Fox established their Hollywood, California studio, beginning their migration westward like other filmmakers in pursuit of better weather conditions for year-round motion picture production. William Fox lost control of his company after the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and the Fox Film Corporation would merge with Twentieth Century Pictures to become 20th Century Fox in 1935.

Some have suggested this to be a pipe flange or a post support. But it has no threading, mounting holes or other fixtures to suggest it would secure and/or retain a pipe or cylindrical rod. Taking the assumption that it's a well, it would have been used to either fill with film cement, or to secure a bottle of film cement (or possibly another chemical) from tipping over as motion picture film was being cut and spliced. Constructed of cast iron, it weighs exactly 2 lbs. and 1 oz., with a 1/2" thick base measuring 4" in diameter.

Whether it ultimately proves to be a film cement well or something entirely different, it performed some significant function for the Fox Film Corporation, significant enough to warrant the company's name being cast into it.

A rather unique (and mysterious) piece of memorabilia from the "golden age" of motion pictures.