Victor Animatograph: Victor Ultra Cine camera

[Luvantique]

Only example ever offered on ebay sold for $686 in October 2008. Extremely rare; only about 80 produced.

A correction to the production number: Alan Katelle said he was told that 80 had been produced, but other sources say 50, and the serial numbers of the few known examples support the smaller number. They are rarely offered, but Edward Kaprelian had several, which were all sold with his estate; at least five that I know of, including an incomplete parts camera. Prices have been disappointing for such a rare and historically significant camera, no more than about $300 in recent auctions.

It's an interesting camera. It could have been much superior to the Cine-Kodak, but Victor did nothing to improve the quality of the lens. With the motor built into the body, it offered a much more compact solution than Kodak's bulky add-on accessory motor. It also offered electrical controls for continuous and single frame operation, with an option for an external power supply, and a continuously variable speed control. Marginal optics and leaky batteries along with an almost non-existent advertising effort probably caused the early demise of the camera in the market.

[Luvantique]

Two recent sales, one on ebay, one private, both for $600 asking price on the part of the seller and both clean, complete cameras. Still no recent auction sales.