Kolchak: The Night Stalker - His Gear

[fcoffman]

KOLCHAK KAMERA KOLLECTION - Camera #2, THE NIGHT STALKER movie "Night Camera"
The Camera that Carl uses in the night scenes with flash attached has been demonstrated to be a Nikon F (the first in the F film series that went through to the F6--this has been proven in discussions in this forum)). It is a FULLY MECHANICAL Manual focus and adjustments camera. The Nikon F (as with many cameras of the late 60s and early 70s does NOT have a "hot shoe" on top of the viewfinder (as more modern cameras usually have). Instead, an adapter clip that fits over the rewind knob provides the shoe. The flash used in the movie has been identified (also here in this forum) as a Honeywell Strobonar 300. I present here images of my "Night Stalker Nikon F Rig" and also some images of the separate elements.

Another question has been raised in that some believe they've detected an extension BELOW the camera. Since the F is totally mechanical in operation, this could not possibly be an additional battery supply--except that one was available to power the very scarce today Autowinder. Perhaps, if these folks are correct and there's "something" appended below the basic Nikon F frame, then the prop people might have added a useless battery pack that was primarily used for the F2--perhaps for "cosmetic" enhancement?. The short movie clip I append shows Carl MANUALLY ADVANCING THE FILM with the advance lever--so there's no autowinder working.

I have had my old Nikon F since the 70s. Rarely used in recent time (I usually use my F4S when shooting film)--BUT it still functions perfectly! I had to invest in the flash clip attachment and find a WORKING rechargeable Honeywell Strobonar 300 flash unit. Still believing that Carl would have had "Good Glass" on his Nikon F, I show the camera with a "Nifty Fifty" (as it was called by many) f1.4 50mm prime lens.

 

[FANATICO]

KOLCHAK KAMERA KOLLECTION - Camera #2, THE NIGHT STALKER movie "Night Camera"
The Camera that Carl uses in the night scenes with flash attached has been demonstrated to be a Nikon F (the first in the F film series that went through to the F6--this has been proven in discussions in this forum)). It is a FULLY MECHANICAL Manual focus and adjustments camera. The Nikon F (as with many cameras of the late 60s and early 70s does NOT have a "hot shoe" on top of the viewfinder (as more modern cameras usually have). Instead, an adapter clip that fits over the rewind knob provides the shoe. The flash used in the movie has been identified (also here in this forum) as a Honeywell Strobonar 300. I present here images of my "Night Stalker Nikon F Rig" and also some images of the separate elements.

Another question has been raised in that some believe they've detected an extension BELOW the camera. Since the F is totally mechanical in operation, this could not possibly be an additional battery supply--except that one was available to power the very scarce today Autowinder. Perhaps, if these folks are correct and there's "something" appended below the basic Nikon F frame, then the prop people might have added a useless battery pack that was primarily used for the F2--perhaps for "cosmetic" enhancement?. The short movie clip I append shows Carl MANUALLY ADVANCING THE FILM with the advance lever--so there's no autowinder working.

I have had my old Nikon F since the 70s. Rarely used in recent time (I usually use my F4S when shooting film)--BUT it still functions perfectly! I had to invest in the flash clip attachment and find a WORKING rechargeable Honeywell Strobonar 300 flash unit. Still believing that Carl would have had "Good Glass" on his Nikon F, I show the camera with a "Nifty Fifty" (as it was called by many) f1.4 50mm prime lens.

Wonderful presentation on some specific specifications. Well Done! Thanx…

Peace

 

[drusselmeyer]

Has anyone identified the Rakshasa crossbow?

 

[FANATICO]

Has anyone identified the Rakshasa crossbow?

Not sure….but good luck to whomever looks for one..

Here’s a screenshot…..with zoomies

Peace

 

[fcoffman]

Kolchak Kamera Kollection - Camera #3 - THE NIGHT STRANGLER CAMERA
The camera used by Carl in The Night Strangler is a Minolta - 16 E E II. It is a very small format, 16mm film camera (same as single perforation 16mm movie film (still available), but filled for shooting with plastic casettes/cartridges that were pre-loaded. This camera has no built-in flash, so the camera in the movie is attached to a Honeywell flash unit using a bracket that screwed into the 1/4" tripod mount of the camera and extended out providing a "cold shoe" for the flash to anchor. Then an "x-cable" was used to connect camera and flash.

The camera shutter is activated by pushing a button on the top right (photo). A dial on the back right of the camera is used to advance the film. (photo). The film cartridge is loaded by opening a door on the bottom of the camera. (photo)

The model of flash used IMHO and the opinion of others on this site is a Honeywell TILT-A-MITE II M2. This nifty flash attachment offered the option of using either small flash bulbs (in which case a reflective "fan" was opened using blades around a central axis (photo). A single flash bulb was then inserted into the flash unit. Carl used the optional flash CUBE affixed on top of the flash unit—likely a "MagiCube" which offered four shots by rotating the cube in the unit. This allowed for four shots before replacing the cube—much more efficient than changing the single bulb for every shot. The small black button on the back of the flash unit ejected either the bulb or the cube—whichever was used. In any case, the flash would have been ineffective beyond 15-20 feet.

Carl was ahead of his time in being a journalist who carried his own camera. Usually, a journalist was accompanied on major assignments by a specialized photojournalist. Perhaps/Likely budget determined some of this? He was also ahead of his time in the use of, not only a personal camera, but a very small format camera (even a 35mm film camera is still considered "Small Format.") But the 16mm negatives from this miniature camera are very small (only about a quarter of the area of a 35mm frame!

By contrast, the photojournalists shown photographing one murder scene are using what had been the standard "Press Camera" (see photo). That large format camera was usually a Graflex, and the sheet film used was often 4" by 5" in size. Usually there were two "shots" available on a reversible "dark slide" film holder. For the Seattle press corps to still be using this in the early 1970s is a bit unlikely—but it had become standard in movies to show them flashing with these large boxes with bellows and a single flash bulb holder. After the advent of 35mm cameras with the Leica in the mid 1920s, and especially by the late 60s to 70s, and certainly by the late 70s, news photographers had almost universally shifted to 35mm cameras--usually Nikons, but Canon and Pentax and others were around.

I plan on loading 16mm film into canisters that allow reload and trying my hand at developing my own Black & White images. There are a couple differences between my "rig" and the Kolchak Camera #3/Night Strangler rig. It seems that his cold-shoe bracket is aluminum rather than the darker iron in my set-up. Also the connecting bracket seems to be shorter, as the flash in my configuration is farther from the camera. If anyone knows where to find an aluminum or stainless cold-shoe bracket, please let me know.

 

[FANATICO]

Kolchak Kamera Kollection - Camera #3 - THE NIGHT STRANGLER CAMERA
The camera used by Carl in The Night Strangler is a Minolta - 16 E E II. It is a very small format, 16mm film camera (same as single perforation 16mm movie film (still available), but filled for shooting with plastic casettes/cartridges that were pre-loaded. This camera has no built-in flash, so the camera in the movie is attached to a Honeywell flash unit using a bracket that screwed into the 1/4" tripod mount of the camera and extended out providing a "cold shoe" for the flash to anchor. Then an "x-cable" was used to connect camera and flash.

The camera shutter is activated by pushing a button on the top right (photo). A dial on the back right of the camera is used to advance the film. (photo). The film cartridge is loaded by opening a door on the bottom of the camera. (photo)

The model of flash used IMHO and the opinion of others on this site is a Honeywell TILT-A-MITE II M2. This nifty flash attachment offered the option of using either small flash bulbs (in which case a reflective "fan" was opened using blades around a central axis (photo). A single flash bulb was then inserted into the flash unit. Carl used the optional flash CUBE affixed on top of the flash unit—likely a "MagiCube" which offered four shots by rotating the cube in the unit. This allowed for four shots before replacing the cube—much more efficient than changing the single bulb for every shot. The small black button on the back of the flash unit ejected either the bulb or the cube—whichever was used. In any case, the flash would have been ineffective beyond 15-20 feet.

Carl was ahead of his time in being a journalist who carried his own camera. Usually, a journalist was accompanied on major assignments by a specialized photojournalist. Perhaps/Likely budget determined some of this? He was also ahead of his time in the use of, not only a personal camera, but a very small format camera (even a 35mm film camera is still considered "Small Format.") But the 16mm negatives from this miniature camera are very small (only about a quarter of the area of a 35mm frame!

By contrast, the photojournalists shown photographing one murder scene are using what had been the standard "Press Camera" (see photo). That large format camera was usually a Graflex, and the sheet film used was often 4" by 5" in size. Usually there were two "shots" available on a reversible "dark slide" film holder. For the Seattle press corps to still be using this in the early 1970s is a bit unlikely—but it had become standard in movies to show them flashing with these large boxes with bellows and a single flash bulb holder. After the advent of 35mm cameras with the Leica in the mid 1920s, and especially by the late 60s to 70s, and certainly by the late 70s, news photographers had almost universally shifted to 35mm cameras--usually Nikons, but Canon and Pentax and others were around.

I plan on loading 16mm film into canisters that allow reload and trying my hand at developing my own Black & White images. There are a couple differences between my "rig" and the Kolchak Camera #3/Night Strangler rig. It seems that his cold-shoe bracket is aluminum rather than the darker iron in my set-up. Also the connecting bracket seems to be shorter, as the flash in my configuration is farther from the camera. If anyone knows where to find an aluminum or stainless cold-shoe bracket, please let me know.

As I go through your pictures….one of them stands out most to me….

It appears to me quite possibly that …..the camera and flash gun was mounted onto a makeshift bar (red arrows)

Perhaps this bar….given the length of the camera approximately 4”, the open space of approximately 1-2”s between it and the flash gun mounted onto the cold shoe another approximately 1” …. I would say that the bar is a continuous 6-7”s long piece of metal in aluminum or stainless steel.

How was the camera mounted? …….whatever the prop guys wanted.

Adhesives….or drill a hole through the bar to attach a screw to the camera tripod attachment point….or something else.

You should be good to go….using pieces like this…and drilling a few holes …

Peace

 

[fcoffman]

As I go through your pictures….one of them stands out most to me….

It appears to me quite possibly that …..the camera and flash gun was mounted onto a makeshift bar (red arrows)

Perhaps this bar….given the length of the camera approximately 4”, the open space of approximately 1-2”s between it and the flash gun mounted onto the cold shoe another approximately 1” …. I would say that the bar is a continuous 6-7”s long piece of metal in aluminum or stainless steel.

How was the camera mounted? …….whatever the prop guys wanted.

Adhesives….or drill a hole through the bar to attach a screw to the camera tripod attachment point….or something else.

View attachment 1826076


You should be good to go….using pieces like this…and drilling a few holes …
View attachment 1826077

Peace

I believe you are correct about a makeshift rig for mounting. The stock "cold shoe bar with tripod mount screw" that I purchased "fills the bill," but is dark anodized. I think your suggestion of a custom drilled (or super-glued with an epoxied cold shoe to tighten up the distance between camera and flash unit AND find a light-colored metal strip truer the the apparent lightness of the bar (as you note: aluminum or stainless) in the photos is -- spot on! Thanks. So my "rig" is semi-complete. I'll post a SINGLE other photo of it when I get the "cosmetics" right.

 

[Probe Droid]

How about something like this for the bar? Used to be common. The black rubber comes off.

 

[drusselmeyer]

Try this:
Vintage Camera Flash Bracket for sale | eBay

 

[FANATICO]

I’d go with this one…….length unknown….you’ll have to contact the Seller

There’s others

 

[fcoffman]

How about something like this for the bar? Used to be common. The black rubber comes off.

View attachment 1826509

Wow! yes, that could work. Just need to find a cold-shoe that has 1/4" threaded tripod mounts -- OR simply epoxy a cold shoe on.

 

[fcoffman]

How about something like this for the bar? Used to be common. The black rubber comes off.

View attachment 1826509

I’d go with this one…….length unknown….you’ll have to contact the Seller




View attachment 1826759

There’s others

View attachment 1826760

I’d go with this one…….length unknown….you’ll have to contact the Seller




View attachment 1826759

There’s others

View attachment 1826760

Wow! yes, that could work. Just need to find a cold-shoe that has 1/4" threaded tripod mounts -- OR simply epoxy a cold shoe on.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I just bought the one on eBay with the light-colored rubber strip over aluminum?stanless? bar. This should complete the "look" of THE NIGHT STRANGLER rig.

 

[UK Carl Kolchak]

I know it's NOT the camera, but, as a new member here, I'd thought I'd share with you my Sony TC-40 tape recorder I managed to buy off a certain auction site. It comes with the ORIGINAL leather carry case. It was purchased here, in the UK, twelve days ago from time of writing this.

 

[UK Carl Kolchak]

I NEED YOUR HELP. I am looking for an EXACT replica of Carl Kolchak's seersucker suit here in the UK. Adult mens size. Can anyone point me in a few directions as to where I may find one. Thank you. CHRIS.

 

[Leinads]

Speaking of gear, and a tad off-topic but FANATICO are you doing SDCC this year? You’ve got a pretty stylin‘ setup from what I recall!

 

[UK Carl Kolchak]

This arrived this morning. A Minolta EE II 16mm. The camera Carl uses in the second film; "The Night Strangler" and the TV series which came a year later.

Won it off a seller off a certain auction site, here in the UK.
Luckily, I was the only bidder, so I got it really cheap. Comes with it's original leather carry case, which I certainly don't remember being listed at the time, so that is an added bonus.

 

[Apollo]

The tv series was a Rollei

 

[jvasilatos]

Hats are available for pre-order again on Etsy.

 

[UK Carl Kolchak]

Hi there. I need some info please. Can someone tell me, what color are the stripes of Kolchak's seersucker suit? Thank you. Any info much appreciated.

 

[FANATICO]

Hi there. I need some info please. Can someone tell me, what color are the stripes of Kolchak's seersucker suit? Thank you. Any info much appreciated.

White and Blue stripes….

Pic from screen used jacket