Artefacts

London 1948, continuous filming photofinish camera.

Physical description

Race finish camera, Mark II, N° 123.

Created

Created: Omega SA Created: Williamson (1910)

Materials

metal

Colors

black, gray

Dimension

54 x 38.5 x 40.5 cm

Literature

The Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad (publ.). The official report of the Organising committee for the XIV Olympiad. London : the Organizing Committee for the XIV Olympiad, 1951 (cop.). The Treasures of the Olympic Games / texts by Martha Macintosh. London: Carlton Books, 2008. The Treasures of the Olympic Games / texts by Martha Macintosh. London: Carlton Books, 2011. INIZAN, Françoise, "Les maîtres et les esclaves du temps", Juillet-août 1994 Great Olympic Moments in Time. Bienne : Omega, 2007. The Treasures of the Olympic Games / texts by Martha Macintosh. London: Carlton Books, 2016.

Type of item

Technical equipment -> film camera

Reference number

78360

Ensemble

Keywords

London 1948, Olympic Games Athletics/races Technology Timing

Notes

Official timekeeper since Los Angeles 1932, Omega made its mark with the Omega Racend Timer, now known as the Photosprint. The photoelectric cell, successfully launched in St. Moritz six months earlier, made its debut at the Summer Olympics. Used in conjunction with the first split-screen camera developed by the British company Williamson, it was dubbed the ‘magic eye’ by the English. The Racend Timer recorded an image that could show the exact order of finish of a close race. This device revolutionised timekeeping.