February 24-26th 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2017
The Machine Gun Camera was used to train Japanese aerial gunners. The camera would take snapshots on at a time of run off a reel of 35mm film. The camera would have been mounted and resembles a machine gun with a celestial viewfinder sight, exposure meter, rear viewfinder, filter holder and lens. In addition to training exercises these could be mounted on airplanes or observation balloons and used to track troop movement. Measures 29" long. It is complete in excellent to near mint condition in its original wood carry case. Accessories include the large front sight, four cans of film, small tools, connecting cords, and original Japanese instruction booklet, diagram of parts, original envelopes, etc. At the end of the war this prize capture item was sent to M.H. Smith in Rhode Island to the Pascoag Racetrack. the carry crate has the original Japanese metal label, hand painted on top in the return and shipping address with "War Trophy - Certificate Inside - May be opened for Postal and/or Custom inspection". Total production of these had to be very small, and this is the first complete set sent back as a war trophy that we have ever seen or heard of. This would be a stunning conversation piece in any World War II memorabilia collector, or to a camera collector.