OUR HISTORY VIDEO: The lens that captured our early chapters

How we filmed our legacy

This is a Bell & Howell 70-DR mechanical 16mm film camera, from some of the earliest days of visual storytelling at Aramco. 

Solidly engineered, the 70-DR is built from precision-machined metal, designed for durability in demanding environments. 

It’s entirely mechanical, powered by a spring-wound motor, meaning no batteries were required, an essential advantage in the remote deserts of Saudi Arabia in the 1930s and 40s. 

Produced between 1936 and 1957, its compact form, reliable film transport, and interchangeable lenses made it one of the most trusted cameras of its era. 

Using cameras like this, Aramco began documenting its story almost from the very beginning.

One of the most significant moments ever captured was the visit of King Abdulaziz, who, on May 1st, 1939, opened the valve for the flow of oil to the tanker D.G. Scofield, marking the first shipment of Saudi oil. 

These early films were more than records; they were instruments of communication, connection, and nation-building. 

But filmmaking with the 70-DR was far from simple. 

Operators had to manually wind the camera, carefully measure exposure, and work with limited film stock.

There was no instant playback.

Every shot required precision, experience, and a degree of faith. 

Heat, dust, and logistics added further challenges in the field. 

Despite this, Aramco steadily expanded its visual storytelling. 

By the 1950s and 60s, the Company was producing structured corporate films and eventually launched Aramco TV, bringing its story to wider audiences, both within the Kingdom and internationally. 

Today, those early efforts have grown into an extensive archive of film, video, and photography. 

Together, they form a rich visual history capturing not just industrial progress, but the human story behind it. 

And it all began with cameras like this one.