REVERE MODEL 20 BOOSTER MOTOR
Revere Camera Company, Chicago, Illinois September, 1949 - 1950?
Larger and heavier than the camera itself, this Revere Model 20 Booster Motor was a spring-powered
attachment permitting the user to run through an entire 25-foot spool of film
without the need to stop and rewind. The unit itself weighs 3 pounds and 4
ounces, with the Revere Model 99 camera weighing only 2 pounds
and 5 ounces.
Revere's booster motor was shown but not officially
announced at the Trade Show of the Master Dealers and Finishers in Cleveland,
Ohio, as reflected in this excerpt from "Tools and Techniques" in Popular Photography, January, 1949.
At that time, it was expected to sell for about $15:
As reflected in the "Trade Notes and News"
section from Popular Photography,
September, 1949, the Booster Motor was capable of 2 minutes of
continuous running at 16 frames per second. It was offered at $19.50 which
included tax, or about $250 in 2022 dollars. As a comparison, Revere's Model 99
retailed between $107 and $137 in 1948.
The Model 20 Booster Motor, shown here mounted on Revere's Model 88 and Model 99 8mm movie cameras, was
available by the last quarter of 1949. The patent covering its design was filed
for on July 29, 1949, and the patent drawings depict its use on a Revere Model
88. Introduced in 1940, the Model 88 would remain in production through at
least 1952. Revere transitioned to wartime production in 1942, eventually being
released by the military of their contractual obligations in 1948 to resume the
manufacture of consumer products.
However, as reflected in wartime magazine advertisements, Revere
continued to market their existing line of movie cameras and projectors, and to
develop new models that were introduced in the 1946-1948 post-war period.
The Booster Motor was designed by Joseph J. Golick and Robert
L. Moore under Patent No. 7,613,761
granted October 14, 1952 and assigned to the Revere Camera Company. Per court
proceedings filed March 13, 1962 in the United States Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Circuit, in Revere Camera
Company vs. the National Labor Relations Board, documents indicate
Joseph Golick was in charge of production for the Revere's Chicago factory.
Although Robert Moore's capacity hasn't been established, he is also believed
to have been an employee of the company with his name being attached as
patentee or co-patentee for numerous patents assigned to Revere in the 1950's
and 1960's:
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
Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Summarizing
the drive's features from the patent's wording, the design:
- Eliminated the
need to rewind the camera's spring numerous times during the course of exposing
film contained in a single loading (25 feet)
- Prevented
spoilage of film or a scene due to the camera's main spring running down,
slowing down or stopping
- Permitted an
entire roll of film to be exposed without interruption
- Permitted the
drive to be easily attached and removed without having to modify the camera
- Rendered the
drive readily usable with all makes of amateur motion picture cameras commercially
available, with the change of a simple base member
- Provided a
simple universal joint to transmit power from the unit's spring to the camera's
power train
- Provided an
automatic brake when the unit was attached or detached, thus preventing the
unit's spring from winding down
- Provided a
control on the unit itself, to stop and start the camera's action
Although the unit is designated as the Model 20 Booster
Motor, other than the Revere name appearing on the winding handle, all the
examples shown here are devoid of any external identification. Further
hindering research, the company's records were apparently destroyed when 3M
acquired the Revere Camera Company in 1960.
Rather ungainly because of its size and weight, it was nevertheless an attempt at improving the capabilities of amateur movie cameras. Compared with the cost of an 8mm Revere camera, the Model 20 Booster Motor was relatively inexpensive. However, based on the few examples seen today, it apparently proved unpopular and was short-lived. Examples do come up occasionally on eBay, and aside from the three featured here, one other can be found on Bruce Jones' "BJ's Movie Camera Collection" website:
https://shikan.org/MovieCameraCollection/cameras-8mm.html
One note in a Revere projector instruction manual, the
brochure seen below and the aforementioned magazine announcements, are the only
references found so far for this external drive. Production of the Model 20
Booster Motor likely ceased well before the patent was issued. Revere's Model
88 appears to have been discontinued in 1952, as it's no longer found in
Revere's catalog for 1953. The Model 99 is believed to have been discontinued
by 1949, as it disappears from Revere's advertisements by that time.
Sadly, considering Revere's investment in development and
tooling, relatively few units were ever produced. But, it's the discovery of an
ingenious item like this that keeps collecting interesting!
For more information on Amateur Cinematography and other Photographica featured on this
website, click on these links:
Model 88 Model 99
Model 88 Model 99
The Revere Model 99 Camera and Booster
Motor outfit below, was accompanied by instructions for both the camera and
motor, along with this field case. Lacking fitted supports (unless they are
missing), it's probably not a factory case. But, it's of a sufficient size to
house the camera and motor, while providing space for film, lenses or other
acessories.
