Bell & Howell

Bell & Howell. An American company founded in 1907 by Donald J. Bell and Albert S. Howell, it became a dominant force in 20th century motion picture technology. Renowned for its high-quality professional and consumer film projectors and movie cameras, the company's equipment was integral to the Hollywood studio system and amateur filmmaking. Its brand later diversified into microfilm equipment, electronics manufacturing, and business services before the original corporation was dissolved.

History

The partnership began in a small workshop in Chicago, focusing on improving the mechanical precision of film equipment, addressing issues like film gate stability and film loop control. Early success came with the 2709 movie camera, adopted by major studios like Paramount Pictures and newsreel companies such as Pathé News. During World War I, the company produced military equipment like the Ae 700 aerial reconnaissance camera for the United States Army Air Service. The post-war era saw expansion into the consumer market with the Filmo camera line and the iconic Model 252 16mm projector, cementing its role in home movies and educational films. A significant merger in 1961 with Ditto, Inc. formed Bell & Howell Company, broadening its scope into business machines and duplicating.

Products and innovations

The company's core innovations centered on film transport and projection. Key products included the professional Eyemo camera, used extensively for newsreel and combat photography, and the Autoload film projector series for schools. It pioneered the Magnetic Stripe technology for adding sound to 16mm film. Beyond cinematography, Bell & Howell developed the Director series of slide projectors and entered the consumer electronics market with products like VHS videocassette recorders under license. Its micrographics division produced reader-printers for microfilm and microfiche, critical for document storage in libraries and corporations like IBM. Later ventures included manufacturing electronic components for the automotive industry and telecommunications equipment.

Corporate structure and operations

For decades, the company was headquartered in Evanston, Illinois. Major operational divisions included Bell & Howell Professional Equipment and the Consumer Products Group. In the 1970s and 1980s, it underwent significant restructuring, selling its iconic photographic equipment lines to companies like Honeywell and Eastman Kodak. The company transformed into a diversified technology and services firm, with operations in mail processing equipment, pharmaceutical packaging, and marketing services. After a series of private equity acquisitions and bankruptcy proceedings in the early 2000s, the original Bell & Howell Corporation was liquidated. The Bell & Howell name continues as a brand licensed to separate entities in fields like document management and production equipment.

In popular culture

The brand is frequently referenced as a symbol of mid-century American technology and home entertainment. It is mentioned in the narration of the classic film *A Christmas Story*, and its projectors appear in movies depicting school settings, such as *The Breakfast Club*. The company's name was famously used in the catchphrase "Sold by Richard Nixon for Bell & Howell," referencing the future U.S. President's early sales career. Its equipment is often seen in archival newsreel footage from networks like CBS and in documentaries about World War II and the Space Race.

Legacy and impact

Bell & Howell's engineering standards set the benchmark for reliability in the global film industry, influencing equipment design for decades. Its products were essential for the dissemination of visual media, from Hollywood features to corporate training films. The company's transition from manufacturing to services reflects broader economic shifts in American industry during the late 20th century. Its brand remains recognizable, representing an era of technological optimism and innovation. The company's founders were honored with an Academy Scientific and Technical Award in 1939 for their contributions to motion picture equipment.

Category:Companies based in Illinois Category:American companies established in 1907 Category:Manufacturing companies of the United States