Grahame N's Web Pages

BIRMINGHAM COMMERCIAL FILMS
9.5MM CATALOGUE

This is a very simple and short page! Birmingham Commercial Films appear to have been a camera shop plus commercial division providing film processing, titling, servicing etc. The processing, titling departments traded under the name of Birco Films I recall.

Thanks to a previous employee of Birmingham Commercial Films Ltd. - Stan White, who ran the commercial still photography department in the 1950s, a little more is now known about the company. The Lozells Road address was the original Harold Juggins photographic studio, established in the late 19th century. Later it became Birmingham Commercial Films with Harold Juggins (son of the founder) owner and managing director. By the 1950s the company traded from Lozells Road and Paradise Street; later taking over Kodak's retail premises on Corporation Street. At that time the company was mainly shooting 16mm films for industry and the beginnings of TV news. Stan knew nothing about the 8mm, 9.5mm & 16mm "Film Cameo" printed film releases - probably an enterprise of Harold Juggins himself.

In the Amateur Cine World magazine around 1951, they had advertised for amateur film productions. The short series of "Film Cameos" that appeared shortly afterwards is presumably the result of these requests. The first three titles were released in 9.5mm - the prints being provided from Pathéscope via their triple print 9.5mm from special 35mm stock system. The films were called '1 reel', but the length on 16mm and 9.5mm was actually 150ft giving a running time per 'reel' at 16fps of around 6 minutes.

As can be seen from the ACW advert above, a further two titles arrived, but just in 8mm and 16mm. This seems to be the sum total of B.C.F. (Birmingham Comercial Films) "Film Cameo" printed film releases.

©GLN '96                     INTERNATIONAL  9.5  FILM  CATALOGUE  -  NUMERIC  ORDER  LISTING           09/04/2003
                             ---------------------------------------------------------------

 9.5mm Number  9.5mm Film Title       Class.               Issue-Delete     Original Film Title         Date

 1 M(BC)  1 BAD TEMPER (THE)          Comedy   B/W Silent     51-     :BAD TEMPER (THE)               ??/??/51*GB
 2 M(BC)  2 CLUMSY COPPER (THE)       Comedy   B/W Silent     51-     :CLUMSY COPPER (THE)            ??/??/51*GB
 1 M(BC)  3 ON THE RIGHT TRACK        Interest B/W Silent     51-     :ON THE RIGHT TRACK             ??/??/51 GB 

                                                                     ( 3 entries )

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Updated 03 June 2011 - many thanks! - to Stan White, now of Ontario, Canada.
Created 09 April 2003 - Last updated: 03 June 2011 ............... 95flmcatbcf.htm ................ ©MM3 G.L. Newnham