The Revere Eight Model 88: A Camera's Cinematic Legacy

The Revere Camera Company was founded in the early 1920s in Chicago, Illinois, as the Excel Auto Radiator Company by Ukrainian immigrant Samuel Briskin. They started making budget 8mm movie cameras in 1939 through a subsidiary run by Briskin's sons, such as the Revere 88 Movie Camera and the Revere 85 8mm Projector. The Revere 88 Movie Camera was manufactured between 1940 and 1946 and utilized Double-8 film.

The Revere Camera Company was founded in 1920 by Samuel Briskin

Headquartered at 1827 S. Michigan Avenue, the Excel Auto Radiator Company soon won contracts with Sears-Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, and Western Auto, leading to rapid growth and additional plants across the country. By the early 1920s, Briskin had become a self-made millionaire.

In the 1930s, the company began to specialise in cine cameras and changed its name to the Revere Camera Company. By 1940, the company was producing its first Model 88 movie cameras—a new take on the conventional "double 8" cameras already on the market. The Model 88 was pocket-sized, featured an exterior winding key, a sprocket for threading the spool of film, and a wrist cord. A full wind-up would generate about two minutes of filming time.

In the 1950s, the company was the second-largest manufacturer of small movie cameras in the United States. During this time, the company expanded its production into electric drills, tape recorders, and other electronics.

In 1960, Samuel Briskin was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and sold the company to 3M for $17 million.

The Revere 88 was manufactured between 1940 and 1946

The Revere 88 was manufactured in Chicago, Illinois, by the Revere Camera Company, which was founded in the early 1920s as the Excel Auto Radiator Company by Ukrainian immigrant Samuel Briskin. The company began manufacturing budget 8mm movie cameras in 1939 through a subsidiary run by Briskin's sons. The Revere 88 was one of the first cameras produced by the company.

The Revere 88 was a heavy camera, even for its time, and featured a fast f/2.5 Bausch and Lomb lens. It had a recording time of approximately four minutes (two minutes per side of film) and a frame rate of 16fps. The camera was manually operated, with a spring-wound motor.

The Revere 88 is a double-8 camera, using 16mm film

The Revere Camera Company was established in 1939, and in 1940 it began producing its first Model 88 movie cameras. The Revere 88 is a double-8 camera, using 16mm film. This means that the film is 16mm wide. The camera was pocket-sized and featured an exterior winding key, a sprocket for threading the spool of film, and a wrist cord. A full wind-up would generate about two minutes of filming time. The Model 88 was an innovative product because of its low price tag. While similar products were being sold for around $50, the Revere 88 was offered at just $30.

The Revere Camera Company was founded by Samuel Briskin, a former radiator repairman. The company was America's preferred producer of budget-priced 8mm movie equipment for a brief period. By the early 1950s, Revere employed 1,500 workers at two major Chicago plants. However, the company's success was short-lived. By the 1950s, public interest in 8mm cameras was steadily dropping, and Revere was no longer able to compete with larger companies such as Bell & Howell. In 1960, Briskin sold the company to 3M, and the Revere name was retired for good in the early 1970s.

The Revere Camera Company was the second-largest manufacturer of small movie cameras in the US in the 1950s

The Revere Camera Company was established in 1920 by Samuel Briskin, a Ukrainian immigrant who also founded the Excel Auto Radiator Company. The company was originally named after its parent company but changed its name to Revere Camera Co. in the 1940s.

In the 1950s, Revere was the second-largest manufacturer of small movie cameras in the US. The company produced budget 8mm movie cameras, projectors, and other electronics, such as electric drills and tape recorders. They also manufactured a rotary grinding hand tool similar to the Dremel Moto-tool.

The Revere Camera Company was known for its innovative and reliable products, particularly its Model 88 camera, which was advertised as follows:

> "The Revere takes the clearest and steadiest home movies you have ever seen. Its advanced design (pocket size), its exclusive automatic film-threading sprocket, five speeds (including slow motion), precision construction, and many other proven features make Revere the outstanding value of 8mm movie cameras."

The company's success was due in part to Samuel Briskin's aggressive advertising strategies, acquisitions, and pricing schemes. However, foreign competition, changes in technology, and shifts in public taste eventually led to the company's decline. In 1960, Briskin sold the company to 3M for $17 million (equivalent to $175 million in 2023) after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

The Revere 88 was advertised as pocket-sized

The Revere Camera Company was established in 1939 by Samuel Briskin, a former radiator repairman. The company's first office was located at 33 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago, but it soon moved into the Excel Auto Radiator plant at 320 E. 21st Street. By 1940, just a year after its founding, Revere was producing its first Model 88 movie cameras.

The Revere 88 was advertised as "pocket-sized" and featured an exterior winding key, a sprocket for threading the spool of film, and a wrist cord. It was designed to use Double-8 film, which was 16mm wide. A full wind-up of the camera would provide about two minutes of filming time. The camera had various speed choices, including slow motion, as well as options for focus and exposure.

The Revere 88 was priced at $30, significantly lower than its competitor, the Bell & Howell "Filmo Companion" model, which sold for about $50 before the war. This aggressive pricing strategy, along with the camera's advanced features and reliable performance, contributed to its popularity and helped establish Revere as a leading producer of budget-priced 8mm movie equipment.

The compact size, ease of use, and affordable price of the Revere 88 made it a popular choice for amateur filmmakers and contributed to the growing trend of home movie-making in the 1940s and 1950s. Its portability allowed users to conveniently capture memories and important life events, such as family gatherings, vacations, and special occasions.

The Revere 88's small form factor also appealed to photographers and filmmakers who valued discretion or wanted to shoot in tight spaces. Its pocket-sized design enabled them to move around freely and capture candid moments without drawing too much attention.

While the Revere 88's compact dimensions were a significant advantage for many users, it's important to note that camera technology and design have evolved over time. Today's cameras, including modern film cameras and digital models, often offer a range of features, ergonomics, and form factors that cater to diverse user preferences and specialized applications.

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