Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted February 25, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Bob DeRose Bob DeRose was building Cinema related equipment and modifying Steadicams from the start in the 70ies through the 80ies and into the 90ies. He was the go to guy if you wanted something modified or made up from scratch. (Lowmode Brackets like the 35-3, Sushi table for the BL, Camera Plates, Wrap Grips, charger upgrades, Arm Posts, Post Clamps, Docking Brackets and Rings, Dog Bones.... you name it). He made the first alternative to the Garfield mount. Basically all the PRO AKS up to this day have there orgine in Bob's "tinker parts" from the DCE accessories for Steadicam. I believe that almost everybody that ever owned a Steadicam owns or used to own, aware of it or not, at least one piece made by Bob DeRose, check your kit and tell me I'm lying. DeRose was modifying Model 1 (changed the angle of the sled so you could see the monitor better and he offseted the batteries for better balance) and the model 2 (lost the second post and added down the post wireing, made dynamic balance possible) and retrofited Model 3s to a down the post wireing including a telescoping Centerpost, introduced the underslung/sandwitched upper Junction Box, for and aft adjustment at the bottom for Dynamic Balance for Model 3 and later for the EFP's. The original Donkey Box (Now known as the D-Box 1) was originally designed for the Steadicam 3A, to replace the unpopular top stage, in 1992 by Chris Haarhoff and build by Yogi in Arizona and sold through DCE and by Chris Haarhoff himself. (Bob based the Camera plates around the 3A plates minus the gears). One of the first costumers was Ted Churchill. (I'm saving now time that I wasn't even aware I was wasting before...) Stortly after the merger of DCE with GPI, Bob DeRose retired and left the Film Business all together. He moved to Minesota, bought a farm and is now restoring and selling antics. He is from time to time back in LA to visit friends... Please feel free to correct me or add anything that I missed... please... so it can be passed on (correctly...) for generations to come... Here an early picture of Bob with one of his "creations", a highly moded Model 1 with the unique Battery offset and his 2" Wrap grip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted February 25, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Here a closer look of the moded Universal Model 1, alla Bob DeRose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted February 25, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Here the Manual for the battery upgrade: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted February 25, 2004 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Here a highly modified Universal Model 2, (I believe it's David Emmerichs old sled, his PRO's Center Post is the identical lengths as this one) It's closer to a 3, almost as good if not better then a Model 3... All the nice upgrades: - single 1.5" DCE telepost. - 3A Gimbal - stand alone Monitor with Scissor arm. - etc... Nice work. That's what Bob's work was all about... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen St John Posted September 24, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Bob DeRose Bob DeRose was building Cinema related equipment and modifying Steadicams from the start in the 70ies through the 80ies and into the 90ies. He was the go to guy if you wanted something modified or made up from scratch. (Lowmode Brackets like the 35-3, Sushi table for the BL, Camera Plates, Wrap Grips, charger upgrades, Arm Posts, Post Clamps, Docking Brackets and Rings, Dog Bones.... you name it). He made the first alternative to the Garfield mount. Basically all the PRO AKS up to this day have there orgine in Bob's "tinker parts" from the DCE accessories for Steadicam. I believe that almost everybody that ever owned a Steadicam owns or used to own, aware of it or not, at least one piece made by Bob DeRose, check your kit and tell me I'm lying. DeRose was modifying Model 1 (changed the angle of the sled so you could see the monitor better and he offseted the batteries for better balance) and the model 2 (lost the second post and added down the post wireing, made dynamic balance possible) and retrofited Model 3s to a down the post wireing including a telescoping Centerpost, introduced the underslung/sandwitched upper Junction Box, for and aft adjustment at the bottom for Dynamic Balance for Model 3 and later for the EFP's. The original Donkey Box (Now known as the D-Box 1) was originally designed for the Steadicam 3A, to replace the unpopular top stage, in 1992 by Chris Haarhoff and build by Yogi in Arizona and sold through DCE and by Chris Haarhoff himself. (Bob based the Camera plates around the 3A plates minus the gears). One of the first costumers was Ted Churchill. (I'm saving now time that I wasn't even aware I was wasting before...) Stortly after the merger of DCE with GPI, Bob DeRose retired and left the Film Business all together. He moved to Minesota, bought a farm and is now restoring and selling antics. He is from time to time back in LA to visit friends... Please feel free to correct me or add anything that I missed... please... so it can be passed on (correctly...) for generations to come... Additional info. about Bob DeRose Bob started modifying rigs while working at Mark Armistead rental house that was located across the street from The Lot on Santa Monica Blvd. The photo of the modified Model #1 with the BL looks like it could have been my rig at the time. That was the package used on Karate Kid, Goonies, Raising Arizona, Out of Africa and more. Bob retired to Western Massachusetts not Minnesota. He's healthy and happy as of summer 2011. Stephen St. John Here an early picture of Bob with one of his "creations", a highly moded Model 1 with the unique Battery offset and his 2" Wrap grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted September 25, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 Thanks for the update, Steve! The first time I met Bob was when I was living in Western Mass and had a model 1--he was in town visiting family and we compared mods. Sometimes I think wistfully of what it would be like to make a life back there again like he has...lovely part of the world. Will have to remember to look him up next time I'm there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Karavite Posted October 31, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 My old 3A had several Bob Derose mods (pre PRO days): DB1 Telescoping Post 2" wrap grip (& shorter one for low mode) Dovetail for fore / aft on electronics base Battery meter Breakers for Camera / Monitor / AKS Playback of on board recorder through 3A monitor That rig was sweet in it's day & was as reliable as any rig I've had. I sold it to a guy in France years ago. I saw it for sale last year (I could recognize the unique package), so it's still out there, which is a testament to Bob's engineering & quality. Though I can't imagine any AC's would be stoked about a Seitz focus unit showing up on set :-). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerichopix Posted July 10, 2014 Report Share Posted July 10, 2014 Bobby was also a wizard at modifying EFP rigs so that they could fly lightweight panaflex and compact moviecam. He could do anything electrical o the EFP, a rig he hated and tolerated as the precursor to the PRO.. My question is, who has taken his place as modifier and fixer for EFP, if such a person exists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Louis Puli SOC Posted July 11, 2014 Moderators Report Share Posted July 11, 2014 Terry West did a great job upgrading my sons EFP rig. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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