Best Mitchell Geared Head - Worrall of course!

[Charlescowper]

I've just aquired a Worral head and it currently doesn't stay at tilted at an angle. Instead, it slips down. Is this normal or does it need servicing? Many thanks.

[marop]

Hello,

So you have a camera mounted on it and you tilt the platform and then it won't stay in that position, if I understand you correctly? There is a lock on these but the camera should be balanced on the head. There is some movement in the thread that holds the camera down. Check and see if there is room to move it opposite the side that drops. You should be able to balance it but I am not sure that it is intended to stay at an angle without holding the wheel or locking it.

Mark

[Charlescowper]

thanks i'll check it out :)

[mediaed]

Hi there, great topic. I am a Worrall lover as well. Is it OK to say that? I'm referring to the fact that the wife sometimes reads my posts. Here are some more beauty shots of the famous geared head.

King

Great pix from all!

For some video shots of both the Moy and Worrall heads in action (albeit in rotation), see the video inserts for the 1930's Fearless blimp and the BNCR in "Member's Articles" under the title "Blimped cameras that made the movies."

ED

[mitchellbnc]

Hello members! Check out this great video tour of the lightweight Mitchell gear head with an excellent description of all it's features including the innovative tilt base feature. For the original product brochure from Mitchell, take a look upthread (previous page) which one of our members has uploaded.

[kitzel667]

I agree the Worrall was a great head - until the Panahead and Super Panahead. I remember the Worrall had some lash in the gears so if a backpan was required you had to gingerly engage the gear in the reverse direction so that when you started to backpan there was no bump. Meanwhile I haven't used a geared head (the last one was an Arri II) on a show in a couple of years. The producers don't want to rent them because of cost. Oh well. The O'Connor 7525 is a very good fluid head.

[Stein8perf]

Just an FYI about Worrall... They are actually still around and last I spoke to the grandson would still manufacture replacement parts for them. I had them make me six intermittent sprockets for VistaVision projector zi constructed back in the late 80's and they did an excellent job on them. They do not have a website, but their address and phone number is below...

Worrall Grinding
1639 South St
Anderson, California, CA 96007-4243

(530) 365-4565

Mark