Avo - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Avo

Late 1940s

Model 1

Automatic Coil Winder & Electrical Equipment Co.

London

England

Image of Avo Model 1

Meter Type:
Photoelectric.

Calibration:
Film speed: 5 - 40 BS Index. Shutter speed: 1/2000 - 60s, 16 f.p.s. mark. Aperture: f1.4 - f32.

Identification:
Cream plastic housing.

In use the film speed is set against an index. A dial is turned to match a pointer against the meter needle. The shutter speed and aperture pairs can then be read. The meter has a baffle for bright conditions this is automatically brought into use when turning the calculator dial on the face of the meter.

References & Notes:
BP 458546/1936. BP 625988/1949.

Shown top left.

Chum

c. 1946

Arthur G. Gosling

London

England

Meter Type:
Photoelectric.

Calibration:
Film speed: 20 - 35° Scheiner. Shutter speed: 1/1000 - 60s. Aperture: f1.4 - f32.

In use the needle moves over a scale of shutter speeds. A dial carries film speeds and apertures. The dial is moved to line up the film speed with the needle, the shutter speed and aperture pairs can then be read. Marked 'Patent Applied For'.

The original price was £5.5.0, in the late 1940s this was reduced to £2.19.6. Versions for Leica and cine as well as the Standard model were produced. Late models may have been calibrated to f1. Also sold in a mottled brown finish. In 1955 Pullins were selling a similar meter, the Prix, on which the Chum was based.

The firm of Gosling was established in 1935, by the mid 1940s it was trading as Arthur G. Gosling with addresses in East Molesey and Ilford. In 1946 an office in Red Lion Square was opened. In 1948 the firm became I and A Gosling at the East Molesey and Red Lion address.

References & Notes:
BP 614330/1948. BJA 1947, pp. 195, 394. BJA 1948, p. 418. BJA 1949, p. 546. AP 6/6/1956, p. 118. Westminster Cat. 1939, p. 49 (similar model). BJA 1956, p. 210. (Pullins).

Shown bottom right of photograph.

Picoskop

Calibration:
Film speed: 18 - 29° Scheiner, 8 - 18 DIN. Shutter speed: 1/4000 - 120s, 8 - 64 f.p.s. Aperture: f1.5 - f25.

Serial Number:
37949 .

In use the film speed is set against an index. As the reading is taken a needle moves over a scale, a dial is moved to align the required shutter speed to the needle. The aperture is then shown against an index. Light is reflected onto the cell by a mirror. Similar in operation to the Tempiphot.

Shown top right of photograph.

Universal

c. 1954

Automatic Coil Winder & Electrical Equipment Co.

London

England

Meter Type:
Photoelectric.

Calibration:
Film speed: 1 - 650 ASA, 10 - 40 BS Index. High-light factor: 1 - 100. Shutter speed: 1/1000 - 60s, cine marker. Aperture: f1 - f32.

Serial Number:
369-2 .

With:
Rubber case. Incident light diffuser.

Dual range set by a switch on the front of the meter. The price was £7.19.6 in 1954.

In use the film speed is set, when the reading is taken a pointer is brought over the meter needle by moving a dial on the top of the meter, the shutter speed and aperture pairs can then be read. When used as an incident meter the film speed is set on the High-Light factor scale and the opal diffuser put in front of the cell. When not in use the diffuser is clipped to the underside of the meter.

Shown bottom left of photograph.

GEC

1946

G.E.C.

London

England

Image of GEC

Meter Type:
Photoelectric.

Calibration:
Film speed: 14 - 38 Scheiner. Shutter speed: 1/2000 - 2m. Aperture: f1 - f32.

Attributes:
Light scale: 0 - 13. Setting for semi-permanently increasing or decreasing exposure by a half or one stop.

With:
Case. Instructions.

In use the light reading is made, the value indicated by the meter needle is set on the rim of the meter against the film speed. The shutter speed and aperture pairs can then be read. Distributed by Johnsons of Hendon.

References & Notes:
BJA 1947, pp. 45, 179.

GEC

1946

G.E.C.

London

England

Image of GEC

Meter Type:
Photoelectric.

Calibration:
Specification as above.

With:
Instructions, printed in black & white. Simple instructions card. Film speed conversion table. Box


Company Details:

Gosling

Photoelectric

Metrophot, Eos, Horvex

Prinsen, Electrodrem, Sixtus
Electro Bewi

Blendux, Ombrux, Cimbrux
Photoskop, Prix

Avo, Smethurst

Tempophot, Tempiphot
Excelsior, Photoscop, Rex

Weston 617, 627, 650, 819
Leicameter, 850

Electrophot

Ilford, Metrovick

Helicon, Ikophot

Avo, Chum
Picoskop, Universal, GEC

Sixtomat, Sixti, Sixon
Piccolo, Chrolon, Leica Meter
Mini Rex, Realt

Ultima, Ambassador
Petri, Polaroid, Vivitar

Weston Master

Canon Booster


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