Sending live from 1935
In the summer of 2018, a film camera is donated to the Åland Maritime Museum. As a surprise, two reels of exposed 8-millimetre film ready to be developed, comes with the gift.
Through a direct link from 1935 the film allows us to follow daily life on board sv Viking on a voyage to Australia. The man behind the camera is the young Englishman John Dewhurst, son to a successful family in the British cotton industry.
He was one of the young men who, in the early 20th century payed to sign on a sailing vessel for no other purpose than to have an adventure.
This is the first time the films are shown at the Åland Maritime Museum.
Texts in the film
John Dewhurst signed on sv Viking to fulfil his childhood dream om rounding Cape Horn.
On a whim, he bought a Ciné Kodak Eight model 20 for the voyage.
This was the first film camera that was small and cheap enough to be used by ordinary people.
This is John’s own film.
Rope work
Free watch
Collecting valuable rain water
Meeting at sea
Spotting dolphins
Long working days
At Cape Horn, John ties himself to the mast in order to film the storm.
Shark fishing
Captain Ivar Hägerstrand
Several passengers joined the voyage.
Port Victoria, Australia
Port time
Loading wheat
Two years after departure, John returned to Oldham, got married and started a car repair shop.
In his sparetime he continued to travel and visited many parts of the world together with his wife.
Film camera
Material: leather casing with plush lining, aluminium camera house
Previous owner: John Dewhurst
Make: Ciné-Kodak Eight Model 20
Used: on board sv Viking 1935
