Doorway Dolly Refurb

[Bob Gruen]

I have access to a professional doorway dolly that is in need of a refurb (was told it was a Peter Lisand). The dolly has a tubular steel frame with two three hole bolt down points, one centered and one opposite of the steering / push handle. It's covered with plywood and has side lugs to add width extending wings.

There are two pneumatic tires at each corner, and most of the ball bearings are fouled, so 16 new bearing will be needed. No big deal there.

There is a cast aluminum post with a 100mm bowl that has a three hole bolt down pattern, but it's only about 2 1/2 feet tall, which puts the camera only at mid body. Is this normal? Do I extend the post or add a 3' jib to it? Also, is there a standard seat that could be added to the center mount? A cut down barstool would work, but would be hard on the cameraman's back.

Thanks in advance...

Bob

 

[chuck coburn]

Hey Bob,

Look into seats made for fishing boats. You can get them with or without backs and they have swivel plates on the bottom. Also some come with or have the option of an adjustable post for heigth.

Chuck

 

[Bob Gruen]

Finished refurbing the "Peter Lisand" doorway dolly:

• Added a Matthews seat assembly and 4 recievers (which were too thin and needed to have a lot of support steel added)
• Built a pushbar
• Added tiedown loops for the tripod
• 8 new tires
• 16 New sealed ball bearings

Some of the tires are not very round, which is a bit of a problem. We'll have to play with tire pressures to see what works best (let's hear it for quality control!). It does roll smoothly with a camera operator aboard, maybe a few sandbags will help as well.

The four seat post recievers allow the camera op to sit at any corner of the dolly, and there are 6 blind nuts that the tripod straps can be screwed into so that the tripod can lean forward or rearward. The tripod in the photo below is leaning forward toward the steered wheels (notice how the 100mm bowl compensates).

The dolly has an Ackerman steering system, but there does not appear to be a way to lock it down.

I'm planning a 2 camera shoot at the end of the summer. The A camera will probably live on this dolly...

Bob