Submitted by Al …
(Adapted from The Encyclopedia of Photography ©1963)
Paillard, S.A., the manufacturer of the Swiss motion picture camera Bolex, began in the early 1800s with the production of music boxes and other sound recording and reproduction devices. Expert Swiss Design and craftsmanship soon made Paillard products highly respected throughout the world for the precision manufacture of high quality goods of many types, including typewriters and business machines which were developed during the 1920s and marketed under the trade name ‘Hermes’.
In the early 1930s, Paillard anticipated the interest of the public in home movie making and began the design and production of its Bolex cameras and accessories for 16 mm film. Later, with the introduction of 8 mm film, smaller cameras for this gauge were also designed and introduced. The history of mechanical excellence which Paillard acquired during more than a century of precision manufacture helped establish the Bolex reputation for fine motion picture cameras and projection equipment. The popularity of the Bolex camera is attested by the fact that it is presently exported to 130 different countries.
Since the end of the second World War, the development of the Paillard organization has been very rapid. The research and production assembly plants at Sainte-Croix, Yverdon, and Orbe in Switzerland have grown in scope and size with a staff that is three times larger that it was fifteen years ago. Today Paillard’s modest 19th century workshops have been transformed into anindustrial complex employing almost 5000 people in its factories and offices, with production and distribution centers in Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, the United States and France.
Bolex manufactures a wide rage of 8 mm and 16mm cameras. In addition, the American branch distributes not only the Bolex line, but also the Swedish-made precision still camera, the Hasselblad.
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