Pre-Owned - DeJUR Custom Electra 8mm Movie Camera
The DeJUR Custom Electra (often stylized as the Custom Electra Automatic) is a classic 8mm movie camera manufactured in the USA by the DeJUR-Amsco Corporation. Produced starting around 1958 through the early 1960s, this series represents a transitional era in home filmmaking where manual controls began integrating with early automated exposure systems.
Key Features & Specifications
• Early Automation: True to its name, it featured an "Automatic" electric eye exposure system (often relying on a selenium light meter) designed to adjust the iris dynamically based on ambient lighting.
• Lens System: Most notably, models like the Custom Electra featured either a distinctive rotating three-lens turret equipped with DeJUR/Bausch & Lomb lenses (typically covering wide-angle, telephoto, and a standard 13mm lens) or a manual/automatic Zoom 8 lens mechanism.
• Build Quality: Built with a heavy, textured metal frame, many configurations paired the industrial casing with mid-century tan or brown leather accents.
• No Batteries Required: The primary movie motor functions via a mechanical, wind-up clockwork spring on the side of the housing.
How it Operates
According to historical documentation, operating these vintage 8mm devices follows a specific workflow:
1. Loading the Film: The camera accepts standard Double 8mm "daylight" film spools. Film drops in the compartment, threads along internal directional arrows, and hooks onto a take-up reel.
2. Shooting & Flipping: You shoot 25 feet of film on the first side. Once it hits the end, the user must open the camera back in dim light, physically flip the spools over, re-thread, and film the remaining 25 feet on the second side. (When processed, the lab splits the 16mm-wide strip down the middle to yield 50 feet of 8mm footage).
3. Mechanical Power: To start filming, you wind the side key until tight, align your preferred lens setting, and press the trigger mechanism (often located near a molded pistol grip or front plate).
