Vintage 1963 Bell & Howell Dial 35 half-frame 35mm film camera, featuring a distinctive vertical body design, spring-powered automatic film advance, and Canon 28mm f/2.8 lens.
Manufactured in Japan by Canon and marketed under the Bell & Howell name in the United States, the Dial 35 is one of the more unusual compact cameras of the 1960s. Its mechanical clockwork motor automatically advances the film after each exposure without requiring batteries.
The half-frame format allows approximately 72 photographs on a standard 36-exposure roll of 35mm film.
MECHANICALLY TESTED & WORKING — LIGHT METER UNTESTED
Features & Specifications
-
Brand: Bell & Howell
-
Model: Dial 35
-
Release Year: 1963
-
Film Format: 35mm half-frame (18 × 24mm)
-
Lens: Canon SE 28mm f/2.8
-
Focus: Manual zone focusing
-
Film Advance: Spring-powered automatic winding mechanism
-
Exposure: Automatic exposure controlled by selenium light meter
-
Shutter: Mechanical leaf shutter
-
Manufactured in: Japan
Condition
Vintage pre-owned condition with signs of age and previous use. Please review all photographs carefully for the exact cosmetic condition.
Testing & Functionality
MECHANICALLY TESTED & WORKING
The following functions have been tested and confirmed operational:
-
Spring-powered wind-up motor winds and operates properly.
-
Automatic film advance mechanism operates.
-
Shutter fires when released.
Light Meter: UNTESTED
The built-in selenium light meter has not been tested for functionality or accuracy. Because the camera relies on its meter-controlled automatic exposure system, correct exposure cannot be guaranteed.
The camera has not been verified through shooting and developing an exposed roll of film. Exposure accuracy, photographic results, and light-tightness remain unverified.
What's Included
-
Bell & Howell Dial 35 half-frame 35mm film camera
Film and additional accessories are not included unless specifically pictured or stated.
About the Bell & Howell Dial 35
Introduced in 1963, the Canon Dial 35 was an innovative departure from conventional camera design. Its upright body and circular front-mounted mechanism give it an appearance reminiscent of a rotary telephone.
Rather than manually advancing film after each photograph, photographers wind the camera's spring motor, which powers automatic film transport between exposures.
Its half-frame format produces two photographs within the space normally occupied by a single standard 35mm frame, effectively doubling the number of exposures per roll.
The Dial 35 remains a distinctive example of Japanese camera engineering from the 1960s and is popular among collectors and enthusiasts of unusual mechanical cameras.
Final Sale Disclaimer
CAMERA SOLD AS-IS — FINAL SALE
This is a vintage camera with functioning mechanical components and an untested selenium light meter. Proper automatic exposure, meter accuracy, light-tightness, and photographic results are not guaranteed.
All camera sales are final, with no returns or exchanges except where required by applicable law.
Please carefully review all photographs, condition details, and testing information before purchasing.