A very early Bell & Howell Model 70-A Filmo movie camera in a custom built underwater housing, in excellent condition. As to its provenance, the unit originally came from the former curator of San Francisco’s Steinhart Aquarium where it was displayed in his office with numerous other underwater housings. It has been in a private American collection for the last decade. The camera is circa 1920s and the custom housing, probably from the early 1950s, constructed along lines similar to the very early Visiola housings. A review of this housing in the Journal of Diving History by historian Sid Macken, noted that both focus and aperture are controlled by a single knob at the front of the housing. A push-pull motion of the knob, engages either function. The housing is weighted to off set buoyancy and control trim. The shutter release is operated by a lever-actuated cam on the right hand side of the housing and a foldaway Plexiglas handle is on the left. The housing is very nicely thought out and great care went into its fabrication. A copy of the published article is included in this lot. An early film camera in an expertly constructed underwater housing with known provenance, from the beginning of free-swimming underwater filmmaking. A rare item in very good condition.