Camera Platforms’ Losses Show Increase

Camera Platforms International Inc., a Valencia film-production equipment company, said its loss for the first quarter that ended March 31 was $434,000, more than four times last year’s loss of $81,000. The loss was on sales of $425,000, down 47% from $802,000 in last year’s first quarter.

The loss widened because of falling sales of electronic ballasts, which are used to move cameras during filming. Also, large orders of the company’s cranes and dollies during last year’s first quarter were not replicated this year.

Camera Platforms has been up for sale for many months. Despite negotiations with numerous prospective purchasers, no deal has been struck, so the company is now “evaluating its alternatives,” it said.