Equipment for hire

"Pan & Tilt Heads" equipment.

Unique in the UK, a complete RCA friction pan & tilt head with tripod (type TD 11A) and dolly (type TD 15A). This friction head type was used extensively in American monochrome tv stations and also on 'remotes' with the tripod and dolly combination which folded for easy transportation. 'Low cost' tv studios also used the tripod and dolly as an alternative to a pedestal. Manufactured by Houston-Fearless, the RCA pan head & dolly was used for over twenty five years (and may indeed still be running around somewhere). Larger picture shows the Dolly/Skid folded.

Still in use somewhere, the innovative Vinten Mk 3 Pan & Tilt head used risers and cams only (no fluids) to maintain the centre of gravity. This made the tilting of heavy cameras relatively easy. Indeed, if correctly mounted, a camera could be left at any tilt angle without lock off. Our picture shows designer Bill Vinten inspecting an example of his invention.

The GYGNET post head was a lightweight addition to the Vinten pan head range.

The Vinten Mk 2 pan head used compression springs to moderate the tilt angle. This large pan head was also devised as a 'duo-pan head' with added pan & tilt control wheels similar to a cradle head. The Vinten Mk 2 pan head was used in 1950s tv studios until the very much better Mk 3 came along.

British made pan head with spring-tension tilt was designed for 35mm movie cameras. This type was used in the 1950s by tv cameras.

Light weight fluid drag pan head, 75mm bowl fitting usually on a Miller Tripod. Useful for 16mm or ENG cameras.

All metal pan head and tripod, (extended to 8 ft). First devised for use with the NS Model G 35mm clockwork movie camera. Later use with Auricon 16mm cameras on tv news.

Small friction pan and tilt head, used with Auricon or Arriflex ST cameras during the 1950s & 1960s.

The 'Fluid 4 Variable Camera Head' consists of two sealed fluid units which, by the use of 'on-off' levers can be varied from a cushioned free head to the heaviest control required. Tilt range 60 degs. Used by film and ENG crews

The Vinten Model J Gyro Tripod consisted of two gyroscopic movements in the panning and tilting mechanisms that introduced drag. This resulted in a smooth, steady motion, especially useful when using very long lenses. Designed in the 1930s for full-sized 35mm cameras such as the Vinten H or Wall/Bell & Howell types. The example pictured has been fully restored.