What Are Those Old Fashion Bank Security Cameras Called

If you have ever watched an old news clip of a bank robbery, you have probably noticed that grainy black-and-white footage with the timestamp flickering in the corner. Many people search for what are those old fashioned bank security cameras called after seeing this footage in documentaries, films, or family photos. The short answer is that they were usually CCTV cameras or, even earlier, “hold-up” film cameras.

This guide explains exactly what these old fashioned bank security cameras were called, how they worked, and why they still matter to security history today.

Quick Answer

Old fashioned bank security cameras were called CCTV cameras or hold-up cameras. Before video, banks used 35mm continuous-film “surveillance cameras” triggered by panic alarms to photograph robberies in real time.

What Were Old Bank Security Cameras Actually Called?

There is not just one name. The term used depended on the era and the technology installed.

Hold-Up Cameras and Sequence Film Cameras

Before video became standard, banks relied on 35mm still-frame film cameras hidden behind teller counters.

These were widely known in the industry as hold-up cameras or sequence cameras. They were triggered by a panic button under the counter and would fire off a continuous stream of still photographs until the film ran out.

Some systems also had a separate “suspicion button” so a teller could quietly snap a photo of someone acting oddly, such as trying to cash a forged cheque.

This wasn’t a niche setup either. Three companies, Diebold, Mosler, and LeFebure, dominated the bank security camera market in the US for decades, and serviced these film systems on a regular basis.

Early CCTV Cameras

Once electronic video arrived, the term CCTV cameras, short for Closed-Circuit Television, became the standard name.

These were the bulky, boxy cameras with a tube-style lens that you see in old crime footage. They were wired directly to a monitor or, later, a VCR sitting in the bank’s back office.

So when people ask what are those old fashion bank security cameras called, both terms are technically correct, depending on whether the footage is from the 1960s-80s film era or the video era that followed.

How Did These Old Bank Cameras Work?

1. A panic button or hold-up alarm under the counter was pressed during a robbery.
2. The film camera began shooting still images at roughly two to three frames per second.
3. The exposed film was removed by a technician using a light-proof “dark bag” so it would not be ruined.
4. Footage was developed and handed to police as photographic evidence, not live video.
5. Later CCTV systems skipped the film entirely, recording straight onto videotape via a connected VCR.

Benefits of These Old-Style Bank Security Cameras

Even with their limitations, these old fashioned bank security cameras offered real advantages for their time.

• High-resolution still images from 35mm film, often clearer than early video.
• Continuous evidence capture during an active robbery.
• A visible deterrent that customers and staff could see.
• Durable hardware that lasted decades with basic servicing.

Practical Examples and Real-Life Use Cases

A classic example is the teller-counter hold-up camera fitted under most US bank counters from the late 1960s onwards. It only activated when triggered, which kept film costs down.

Another common use case was casinos, which adopted CCTV alongside banks in the 1960s for the same reason: constant, dependable monitoring of cash handling areas.

By the 1970s and 80s, the same boxy CCTV cameras spread to retail shops, car parks, and government buildings, all wired to a central monitor bank.

Latest Industry Statistics and Trends

Security camera technology has moved a long way from those old fashioned bank security cameras, but the history still shapes today’s standards.

• The US Bank Protection Act of 1968 made cameras a legal requirement for American banks, cementing CCTV as an industry norm.
• The 1976 introduction of CCD sensor technology allowed cameras to finally capture usable low-light footage.
• DVRs replaced VCRs through the 1990s, removing the need for physical tape changes.
• By 1996, Axis Communications had launched the first IP network camera, starting the shift to fully digital surveillance.

According to surveillance industry resources such as DTiQ and IPVM, many banks kept their old film-based hold-up cameras running well into the late 1980s, even as CCTV became widely available, simply because the film image quality was hard to beat at the time.

Common Mistakes People Make About Old Bank Cameras

• Assuming all old bank cameras recorded continuous video. Many only captured still images during an alarm trigger.
• Confusing CCTV cameras with modern IP cameras, which work very differently.
• Thinking these cameras were always black and white. Some later film systems used colour stock.
• Believing the footage was instantly available. Film had to be developed first, which could take hours.

Expert Tips for Identifying These Cameras

If you are restoring vintage security gear or researching old footage, look for these clues.

• A boxy metal housing with a visible round or tube-shaped lens usually points to early CCTV.
• A small wall- or counter-mounted unit with no visible cable to a monitor often suggests an old film hold-up camera.
• Branding from Diebold, Mosler, or LeFebure is a strong sign of genuine 1960s-80s bank equipment.

Key Takeaways

• Old fashioned bank security cameras are commonly called CCTV cameras or hold-up cameras, depending on the era.
• Early systems used 35mm continuous film triggered by panic alarms rather than live video.
• Diebold, Mosler, and LeFebure were the leading suppliers of bank surveillance systems in the US.
• The 1968 Bank Protection Act made these cameras a legal requirement.
• Technology moved from film, to CCTV and VCR, to DVR, and finally to today’s IP cameras.

Conclusion

So, what are those old fashion bank security cameras called? In short, they were CCTV cameras and, before that, hold-up or sequence film cameras, both built to capture evidence during a robbery in an era long before digital storage existed.

Understanding this bit of security history helps put modern Brand of Volkswagen surveillance technology into perspective and shows just how far bank protection has come. If you are researching vintage security equipment or writing about banking history, hopefully this clears up exactly what those old fashioned bank security cameras were called and how they worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.What is the proper name for old bank security cameras? 

They were typically called CCTV cameras, or hold-up cameras when referring to the earlier 35mm film systems.

2.When did banks start using security cameras? 

Civilian CCTV use in banks began in the 1960s, with cameras becoming a legal requirement in the US after 1968.

3.Did old bank cameras record continuous video? 

Not always. Many early systems took still photographs in rapid sequence rather than continuous video footage.

4.Who made the old bank security camera systems? 

Diebold, Mosler, and LeFebure were the three main companies supplying bank security cameras for decades.

5.Why did old bank cameras use film instead of video? 

Early 35mm film offered sharper, higher-resolution images than the video technology available at the time.