Mystery Neman and Sinclair P100 Cine Camera c/w Cooke Lens

W

wizards-sleeve

Messages
2
Name
Gary Palmer
Edit My Images
Yes
Hello All.

I wonder if you can help.
I am in the possession of a Newman and Sinclair P100 35mm Cine Camera.
I am attempting to discover some background to this object. I cannot find any information on the net whatsoever, the closest I can find is the Newman & Sinclair NS400 featured on the Science Museum Group website in the Cinematography Category.
It has a Cooke Speed Panchro 18mm f1.7 T2.
If you are able to offer any help it would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Gary
 
Canon Bob said:
I think that @Garry Edwards on here might be able to help you.
Click to expand...
I know nothing about this particular camera and am pretty sure that I've never seen one. It will have been designed by Arthur Newman, who (probably later than this) went into a business arrangement with James A Sinclair & Co of No.3 Whitehall, right next to Trafalgar Square. I worked there in the early '60s.They had a small factory in North London, in the Highgate area, where literally everything was done entirely by hand, and as a junior, I was often sent there, it was fascinating.

By this time the Newman Sinclair name had gone and it was just Sinclair, and the cameras were very different too. They were still used by the movie industry but there were special models for a single customer, which were heavily modified. I can't go into details (I still remember being terrified, as a young lad, when I had to sign a document saying that I had read and understood the Official Secrets Act) and I am probably still bound by it, suffice it to say that it was possible to open the case underwater and remove the special film cartridge, which was watertight at diving depths. It was very lucrative because the customer constantly bought new cameras and it was rumoured that they were to replace cameras left in the docks of potential enemies:)

And that's all I know.
 
But I'll add a funny anecdote. I used to have to go to the customer quite often, sometimes with bits of equipment, sometimes with a bit of paper that they needed to sign. The customer was The Admiralty, just along the road and I hated going there because of the security. I had to report to the "reception" there, they would then phone both the officer who I had to see and Sinclairs for confirmation, and I would then wait for a very long time. Eventually, two armed sailors would escort me to the office, one would go inside and stand guard, the other would be outside the door standing guard, and I would then be allowed in, and would then be escorted back to reception.

Anyway, one or more of their senior people was caught spying for the Russians, a journalist was sent to prison for refusing to disclose his source and there was a public enquiry. The government then said that security at The Admiralty would be tightened up, and I assumed that my unwilling visits there would take even longer. But, when I next went there and I told the guard on reception that I was there to see Captain Smith, he just looked at me and said something like "You know the way don't you son? Off you go".
 
Garry Edwards said:
I know nothing about this particular camera and am pretty sure that I've never seen one. It will have been designed by Arthur Newman, who (probably later than this) went into a business arrangement with James A Sinclair & Co of No.3 Whitehall, right next to Trafalgar Square. I worked there in the early '60s.They had a small factory in North London, in the Highgate area, where literally everything was done entirely by hand, and as a junior, I was often sent there, it was fascinating.

By this time the Newman Sinclair name had gone and it was just Sinclair, and the cameras were very different too. They were still used by the movie industry but there were special models for a single customer, which were heavily modified. I can't go into details (I still remember being terrified, as a young lad, when I had to sign a document saying that I had read and understood the Official Secrets Act) and I am probably still bound by it, suffice it to say that it was possible to open the case underwater and remove the special film cartridge, which was watertight at diving depths. It was very lucrative because the customer constantly bought new cameras and it was rumoured that they were to replace cameras left in the docks of potential enemies:)

And that's all I know.
Click to expand...

An interesting background. What with the widespread archival data in public domain about so much of the camera industry history, it is a tad surprising that the mentioned P100 does not show up more often. Perhaps it too was made for an unspecified customer and hence no/low details findable. Though having said that my Rollei T has the UK department "arrow" on it...... clearly not for any covert usage ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top