Photo-Sonics, Inc.
Photo-Sonics, Inc. is a U.S. manufacturer of photo-optical instrumentation, optical tracking systems, and airborne camera systems for defense, aerospace, and motion picture applications.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Photo-Sonics, Inc. is an American company specializing in the development and manufacture of photo-optical instrumentation. Its origins trace back to 1924, when Adolph Furer founded Acme Tool and Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles as a contract machine shop. The business soon moved into the motion picture field, modifying cameras for Walt and Roy Disney's stop-motion animation production in the late 1920s and later developing optical printers and special-effects film equipment. In 1939 Adolph Furer sold the company to his son Edward Furer, who relocated it to Burbank and focused it more strongly on special-effects film technology. The company collaborated with special-effects artist Linwood G. Dunn on the Acme Optical Printer in 1940. After the United States entered World War II, production shifted toward military developments, a focus that remains central today. Photo-Sonics, Inc. was founded in 1952 and oriented toward photo-optical instruments. Around 1960 the businesses were reorganized: Acme Camera Corporation was merged into Photo-Sonics, Producers Service Company was sold, and Producers Sales Corporation was dissolved, leaving Photo-Sonics, Inc. as the surviving entity. The company received Academy Awards for technical achievement in 1945 and 1981 for the Acme-Dunn Optical Printer, and a Scientific and Engineering Award in 1989 for the Photo-Sonics 35-mm-4ER high-speed motion picture camera. In 2015 the company moved its headquarters to Chatsworth. Today Photo-Sonics supplies optical tracking systems, tracking mounts, airborne cameras, head-up display (HUD) cameras, and ruggedized equipment to major missile test ranges, defense installations, scientific laboratories, military test ranges and research centers, military aircraft, and major corporations. Its clients range from small motion picture and television production companies to major aerospace prime contractors and U.S. and foreign governments. The company provides engineering and production services including turnkey design and production of complex mechanical and electro-optical components and systems, system integration, software development, environmental testing, and consulting. In August 2025, Photo-Sonics successfully demonstrated two ARTIS Close-In prototypes at U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, involving environmental heat, cold, rain, and vibration tests and dynamic tracking of small unmanned aerial vehicles and small rockets over a four-month period.
History
Photo-Sonics, Inc. traces its origins to 1924, when Adolph Furer founded Acme Tool and Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles as a contract machine shop. In the late 1920s the company entered the motion picture field through contact with Walt and Roy Disney, who had a Bell & Howell camera modified for stop-motion animation production. Acme continued to produce special equipment for Disney's animation photography and developed new or modified cameras for that application. In 1939 Adolph Furer sold the company to his son Edward Furer, who focused it more strongly on the development and manufacture of special-effects film technology and relocated it to Burbank. The main products at that time were animation stands, optical printers, matte printers, process cameras, and other accessories and peripheral equipment. In 1940 the company collaborated with special-effects artist Linwood G. Dunn to develop the Acme Optical Printer. With the U.S. entry into World War II, the focus shifted to production of war-related developments. Military developments continued after the war and are today a major focus of the company's activities. The company also worked with the National Security Agency (NSA). It developed custom optical printers for large companies such as Kodak and for film studios. In 1949 Producers Service Company was founded. In 1952 Photo-Sonics, Inc. was founded and the company was oriented toward the development and manufacture of photo-optical instruments. Around 1960 the businesses were reorganized: Acme Camera Corporation was merged into Photo-Sonics, Producers Service Company was sold, and Producers Sales Corporation was dissolved, leaving only Photo-Sonics, Inc. At the 1945 Academy Awards, Cecil Love and Linwood G. Dunn and the Acme Tool and Manufacturing Company were honored with a Technical Achievement Award for the design and construction of the Acme-Dunn Optical Printer. Love, Dunn, and Acme Tool and Manufacturing Company were again honored at the 1981 Academy Awards with an Academy Award of Merit for the concept, engineering, and development of the Acme-Dunn Optical Printer for motion picture special effects. At the 1989 Academy Awards, Photo-Sonics, Incorporated and its engineer Roy W. Edwards received a Scientific and Engineering Award for the design and development of the Photo-Sonics 35-mm-4ER High-Speed Motion Picture Camera with reflex viewing and video assist. In 2015 the company moved its headquarters to Chatsworth. Today Photo-Sonics is a leading photo-optical technology resource providing clients with specialized expertise through development, design, and manufacture in the areas of photo-optical instrumentation systems. It specializes in the development of tracking systems, sensors, control electronics, and software. Clients range from small production companies serving the motion picture and television industry to major aerospace prime contractors and the U.S. and foreign governments. The company offers full turnkey design and production of complex mechanical and electro-optical components and systems, system integration, software development, environmental testing, and consulting. Its equipment is used at the nation's major missile test ranges, defense installations, scientific laboratories, military test ranges, military research centers, in military aircraft, and at major corporations. In August 2025, Photo-Sonics successfully demonstrated two ARTIS Close-In prototypes at U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, involving robust environmental heat, cold, rain, and vibration tests along with dynamically tracking small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAS) and small rockets over a four-month period.
- 2025
On August 22, 2025, Photo-Sonics successfully demonstrated two ARTIS Close-In prototypes at U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range.
- 2015
The company moved its headquarters to Chatsworth.
- 1989
Photo-Sonics, Incorporated and its engineer Roy W. Edwards received a Scientific and Engineering Award for the design and development of the Photo-Sonics 35-mm-4ER High-Speed Motion Picture Camera with reflex viewing and video assist.
- 1981
Love, Dunn, and Acme Tool and Manufacturing Company received an Academy Award of Merit for the concept, engineering, and development of the Acme-Dunn Optical Printer for motion picture special effects.
- 1960
Around 1960, the businesses were reorganized: Acme Camera Corporation merged into Photo-Sonics, Producers Service Company was sold, and Producers Sales Corporation was dissolved.
- 1952
Photo-Sonics, Inc. was founded and oriented toward the development and manufacture of photo-optical instruments.
- 1949
Producers Service Company was founded.
- 1945
Cecil Love, Linwood G. Dunn, and Acme Tool and Manufacturing Company received a Technical Achievement Award for the design and construction of the Acme-Dunn Optical Printer.
- 1940
Collaboration with special-effects artist Linwood G. Dunn to develop the Acme Optical Printer.
- 1939
Adolph Furer sold the company to his son Edward Furer, who relocated it to Burbank and focused on special-effects film technology.
Products and positioning
A leading photo-optical technology resource providing specialized expertise in photo-optical instrumentation systems, serving defense, aerospace, and motion picture clients.
MMTS Mobile Multi-Spectral Tracking System
A mobile multi-spectral tracking system capable of acquiring 6DOF data of high-velocity projectiles from launch to impact.
Super Radot Tracking System
An optical tracking system.
Cine-Sextant Tracking Mount
A tracking mount for optical tracking systems.
Compact Tracking Mount (CTM)
A compact tracking mount.
Mini-Sextant Tracking Mount
A tracking mount.
Nano-Sextant Tracking Mount
A tracking mount.
Argus Instrument Control System
An instrument control system.
F/A-18C/D/E/F/G HUD Camera
A head-up display camera for the F/A-18 aircraft.
F-16C/D Cockpit Camera (CCAM)
A cockpit camera for the F-16C/D aircraft.
Photo-Sonics 35-mm-4ER High-Speed Motion Picture Camera
A high-speed motion picture camera with reflex viewing and video assist, recognized with a Scientific and Engineering Award in 1989.
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