Todd-AO Equipment Catalog | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Written by: Thomas Hauerslev. All captions in the Todd-AO Catalog are written by Brian O'Brien, Jr. in 1955 and 1997 and reproduced from the original sources by Anders M. Olsson, Sweden and Brian Guckian, Ireland. | Date: 21.05.2014 |
 Walter
Siegmund and Brian O'Brien, Jr. in front of the American
Optical Company Research Building where the Todd-AO process was developed.In 1997 Willem Bouwmeester and I went to the United States for a Historical Wide Screen Gathering in Connecticut. I met Brian O'Brien, Jr. for the first time, when he picked us up at the airport in Hartford. A tall man with a healthy sense of humor, Brian O'Brien, Jr. was employed at American Optical Company during the development of the Todd-AO process 1952 - 1957. He was generally in charge of planning and development of motion picture production equipment. I had contacted Brian some years before our first meeting and we corresponded back and forth about Todd-AO, a subject we both felt very passionate about. During the visit we were introduced to Walter Siegmund and John Davis who also worked on the Todd-AO process. Brian and Walt were our friendly hosts for 3-4 days, and with them we visited American Optical in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was very moving for all, as this was their first visit in more than 30 years. When visiting Brian's house, he showed me a set of 6 ring-binders with a complete set of all things Todd-AO. Every single piece of Todd-AO equipment manufactured by American Optical company for the process between 1953-56. Brian had this catalog made when the entire range of equipment was ready for production of the first movie "Oklahoma!" in 1954. As he explained, it was a document to explain the equipment made for the Todd-AO Corporation. |
More in 70mm reading: Go to Todd-AO Catalog: Volume I Volume II Volume III Volume IV Volume V Volume VI Mark III Printer Todd-AO Birth date How Todd-AO Began Todd-AO Home Historical Wide Screen Gathering DP70 / Universal 70-35 / Norelco AAII - The Todd-AO Projector Description of Todd-AO Mark III Printer Principle "Oklahoma!" Printing Operation in the Todd-AO Mark III Printer Todd-AO - Distortion Correcting Printing Process Internet link: |
 5
volumes of American Optical company's catalog of all things Todd-AO.
Every single piece of Todd-AO equipment manufactured for the motion
picture process between 1953-56.A few years later Walter Siegmund kindly sent me his set of ring binders as well as a few other rare pieces of Todd-AO equipment - including a 64 degree lens and a Bug Eye viewfinder. Unfortunately Walt's set was short of Volume #1. Brian later corrected that, by having his Vol #1 re-photographed on 35mm film for me. In his files Brian also found three envelopes of black and white stills of the Distortion Correction Mark III Printer when it was installed in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Brian kindly had 35mm negatives made of 50+ stills of the unique and long-gone printer too. I have always wanted to add this Todd-AO catalog of equipment to the web site, but time and resource restrictions have prevented me from doing so. Until now. My only regret is that both Brian and Walt have passed away. I really wanted to do this much earlier, however, that has not been possible. Each volume of the catalog ring binders had descriptions of the equipment. Where missing, Brian O'Brien, Jr. have produced additional captions and explanations for the remaining stills, including the printer. All his captions have been reproduced here from the original sources by Anders M. Olsson, Sweden and Brian Guckian, Ireland. |
25.05.2014 Hello Thomas, What a great section on your site!!! This is a great record of the depth of the undertaking of the Todd-AO process. GREAT JOB!!!!!! Best Always, Robert Weisgerber |
 65mm
Todd-AO
frame from
1953
with distortion correction with zero droop. The view of American Optical
Company
across the lake in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA. The American Optical Research
building is seen to the left of the big building.
Todd-AO Catalog, Volume I Todd-AO projector DP70 | Slow start box | Bell & Howell EYEMO 35mm Camera with Todd-AO Baby Bug Eye lens Todd-AO Catalog, Volume II "Bayonet" Camera | "Bayonet" Camera Blimp Todd-AO Catalog, Volume III Camera Lenses | Camera Follow Finder | Camera Magazines Todd-AO Catalog, Volume IV Camera Motors and Controls | Camera Tripods Todd-AO Catalog, Volume V Synchronizing Machines | Film Edge Numbering Machines Todd-AO Catalog, Volume VI Editing Machines | Film Rewinds | Splicers Todd-AO Catalog, Distortion Correction Printer, Mark III All images are clickable to be able to enjoy a large version of the equipment. |
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Todd-AO Catalog Numbers
| |
 Front entrance to American Optical
Research Center
building in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA.Cat. #00: Todd-AO High Speed Camera Cat. #01: Todd-AO Camera | Todd-AO Camera Box | Todd-AO Bayonet Camera Cat. #02: Todd-AO 128° "Bugeye" Lens Cat. #04: 37° Bayonet Lens | Todd-AO 37° Camera Lens | Bayonet Lenses Cat. #05: Todd-AO 48° Camera Lens | Bayonet Lenses with 48° Objectives | Bayonet Lenses Cat. #06: 64° Camera Objective, 64° Bayonet Lens | Todd-AO 64° Camera Lens | Bayonet Lenses Cat. #08: Todd-AO High Torque Synchronous Camera Motor Cat. #09: Camera Adapter Door Cat. #10: Todd-AO Variable Speed Motor Cat. #12: Todd-AO High Speed Camera Magazine Cat. #13: Todd-AO Camera Magazines Cat. #14: Wide-angle Follow Finder | Todd-AO Wide-angle Follow Finder Cat. #15: 37°-48° Follow Finder Adapter | Todd-AO 37°-48° Finder Adapter Cat. #16: 64° Adaptor, 64° Finder Adapter Cat. #17: Todd-AO 128° Finder Adaptor Cat. #18: Todd-AO Bayonet Camera Blimp Cat. #21: Wide-angle Matte Box | Special Todd-AO Wide-angle Matte Box Cat. #22: Filter Holder Box Cat. #23: Todd-AO Hydraulic Camera Tripod Cat. #24: Geared Pan & Tilt Head | Geared Tripod Head Cat. #25: Standard Mitchell Tripod Cat. #26: Standard Mitchell Baby Tripod Cat. #27: Standard Mitchell High Hat |
|
 View
of American Optical's machine shop, probably in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA.Cat. #30: Todd-AO Soft Start Camera Motor Control Box Cat. #41: "Bug eye" Carrying Case Cat. #42: Todd-AO Bayonet Matte Box & Accessory Case Cat. #44: Todd-AO Bayonet Lens Carrying Case Cat. #47: Todd-AO Finder Carrying Case Cat. #51: Todd-AO Editing Machine Cat. #55: Todd-AO Edge Numbering Machine Cat. #58: Todd-AO Edge Numbering Machine Cat. #62: Negative Splicer | Todd-AO Treadle Splicer Cat. #63: Positive Splicer | Todd-AO Treadle Splicer Cat. #69: Todd-AO Timing Stand Cat. #70: Todd-AO Editing Rewind Cat. #72: Control Box Cat. #74: Todd-AO Manual Rewind Cat. #75: Todd-AO Synchronizing Bench Rewinds Cat. #76: Todd-AO Synchronizing Bench Rewinds Cat. #77: Todd-AO Synchronizing Bench Rewinds Cat. #78: Todd-AO Enclosed Power Rewind Cat. #79: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 2 x 4 with counter Cat. #80: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 1 x 1 with counter Cat. #81: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 1 x 2 Cat. #82: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 2 x 0 Cat. #83: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 1 x 2 with counter Cat. #84: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 1 x 4 with counter Cat. #85: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 1 x 6 with counter Cat. #86: Todd-AO Synchronizer, 1 x 4 with counter Cat. #87: Todd-AO Bench Splicer | |
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