CAMERA MACHINE GUN.

It’s not every day one will come across an extreme rarity like this. When commercial air travel began to hit its stride in the 1930s its use as a military application was already in its stride and being perfected. The US War Dept. (which eventually changed names to the Defense Dept.) was training combat pilots to an unstoppable force. Since it wasn’t practical to practice with live ammunition the US Army Air Corp with the help of engineers at Fairchild Aviation developed a camera gun that operated like the machine guns the airmen were used to firing while being able to record their maneuvers to improve shooting accuracy. This item in heavy gauge nickel plated bronze was designed to mount in an aircraft like the machine guns of the period with an interior to hold film with the trigger snapping pictures at a rate of up to 6 frames per second. Complete with cross-hair sites, wooden handles and a long barrel it mimicked the look of the military machine gun. Affixed with an official plaque identifying it along with a serial number of “A.C. 37-217”. Accompanied by documents pertaining to aerial photography including an equally rare official War Dept. technical manual dated July 8, 1941 and a de-classified manual for aerial gunnery dated August 1919 (these were most often destroyed) as well as correspondence between the present consignor and aeronautical historians about the camera gun. A fabulous trove of information and historically significant piece of modern military history. SIZE: 37″ l. CONDITION: Very good to excellent. Internal camera mechanism itself is no longer present. 1-14159 (2,000-3,000) – Lot 3626

Auction: Advertising, Toy & Doll - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3626	$1,215.00	CAMERA MACHINE GUN. It’s not every day one will come across an extreme rarity like this. When commercial air travel began to hit its stride in the 1930s its use as a military application was already in its stride and being perfected. The US War Dept. (which eventually changed names to the Defense Dept.) was training combat pilots to an unstoppable force. Since it wasn’t practical to practice with live ammunition the US Army Air Corp with the help of engineers at Fairchild Aviation developed a camera gun that operated like the machine guns the airmen were used to firing while being able to record their maneuvers to improve shooting accuracy. This item in heavy gauge nickel plated bronze was designed to mount in an aircraft like the machine guns of the period with an interior to hold film with the trigger snapping pictures at a rate of up to 6 frames per second. Complete with cross-hair sites, wooden handles and a long barrel it mimicked the look of the military machine gun. Affixed with an official plaque identifying it along with a serial number of “A.C. 37-217”. Accompanied by documents pertaining to aerial photography including an equally rare official War Dept. technical manual dated July 8, 1941 and a de-classified manual for aerial gunnery dated August 1919 (these were most often destroyed) as well as correspondence between the present consignor and aeronautical historians about the camera gun. A fabulous trove of information and historically significant piece of modern military history. SIZE: 37″ l. CONDITION: Very good to excellent. Internal camera mechanism itself is no longer present. 1-14159 (2,000-3,000) – Lot 3626 Auction: Advertising, Toy & Doll - Spring 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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CAMERA MACHINE GUN.