I used to rebuild these machines for a living. Kinda fun to watch you discover it all for the first time. I can't even begin to describe how much I miss working on these things.
This is a much later super simplex machine, based on the castings and finish. The earlier machines from the 30's have some really fun streamline castings in a glossy black finish, and chrome trim, plus large shrouds/cowling for the projection reels to keep dust and fingers out. They also had the slightly more dangerous carbon electrode arc lamps, with the mechanical feeder assemblies for the carbon electrodes to keep the arc distance consistent over the duration of the projection. That's partly why many projectionists had to be trained in mechanics and electrical design for their own safety and the safety of the theatres. Especially since those designs were in use until the highly flammable nitrate films were retired in the 50's, in favor of the acetate films (and later polyester). This machine was likely slightly redesigned to accommodate newer soundtrack stuff, like dolby DTS, and the newer polyester print films, which could cause damage to the machinery if there was a jam.
The bottom bit is a cue detector and failsafe. The potted deal is a triple proximity sensor: you attach 1/4" wide strips of metal tape to the film at centre, inner, or outer (or a combination). Different automations do different thongs with this info - some have coded cues (ie inner + outer turns the house lights on), other just see a cue and have the actions programmed in sequence for a show - first cue may be lamp on, lights off, sound on, and open the dowser for example, . The two optical sensors detect the film: one just that it's in there and one pointed at the sprocket holes can tell if it's in motion. The automation will shut the motor and lamp off if the film breaks or stops moving. Again, you could find a compatible automation (probably a Component Engineering TA-10) pretty cheap if you wanted one.
That's right The cue detector pulses the automation to do the next item in the play list. You put the tape on the film at certain spots when you wanted something to happen like your sound to switch formats or your house lights to go up or down.
I like the mini jack-hammer ;) Nice, that you put the whole thing together again (have luck with the potted thing though). I also take many things apart and put them together in the "original" form, although I'd never use the things anyway. It's just for show. Sometimes there's a point of no return though. That's mostly on the second time of a teardown, when I need space to get some of my collected stuff out. :)
The anamorphic lens in a projector expands the image horizontally, not vertically. When you look into the lens and see the oval vertical... that's when it's in correct orientation to stretch horizontally. It's a prism.
I heard an idea of using a flatbed scanner's sensor and a long focal length lens to make huge 10,000 pixel height panoramas by scanning the horizon. Gotta try that sometime.
Yes, it was sad to see the other 11 go to the scrap yard :( They don't build things this well anymore. My friend who works at the theater said the worst problem they ever had with these units was a broken spring on the arm that hold the film on the sprockets.
I once operated this model projector about a year ago, really, really awesome to see this tear-down and your awesome commentary. For the object at 29:29 I can tell you that it's most likely a device that senses a small metal tape, like you said, (placed on whoever built the film print) to cue a program automation. Check out my video on 35mm film projection. (just search for it in my channel) and you will see the device we have under the analog sound reader (different than what's in this video).
I would have kept the projector. Whats the point of tearing it apart? This thing has no reusable parts, just a bunch of special gearbox parts (scrap metal). It would be 1000% cooler to set this thing up as a home cinema. Thanks for the video anyway!
Not to mention that you have to be pretty dense to not notice that he puts it back together afterwards, and he specifically mentions several times in these videos that he wants it running to show it off.
The only way to learn is to tear it down and put it back together again. Great video. I worked on these mechs at Elstree Studios back in the 60s and 7os.
I used to rebuild these machines for a living. Kinda fun to watch you discover it all for the first time. I can't even begin to describe how much I miss working on these things.
This is amazing. The sheer amount of engineering accuracy that's gone into this is phenomenal
Robbie Beresford Indeed! If it’s not needed, it’s not there! Film projectors are a marvel of engineering 🎞
Fantastic video! this really helped me understand a LOT more about how a 35/70mm projector works. Cheers!
See extreme teardown began, a history of changes, very good.
This is a much later super simplex machine, based on the castings and finish. The earlier machines from the 30's have some really fun streamline castings in a glossy black finish, and chrome trim, plus large shrouds/cowling for the projection reels to keep dust and fingers out. They also had the slightly more dangerous carbon electrode arc lamps, with the mechanical feeder assemblies for the carbon electrodes to keep the arc distance consistent over the duration of the projection. That's partly why many projectionists had to be trained in mechanics and electrical design for their own safety and the safety of the theatres. Especially since those designs were in use until the highly flammable nitrate films were retired in the 50's, in favor of the acetate films (and later polyester). This machine was likely slightly redesigned to accommodate newer soundtrack stuff, like dolby DTS, and the newer polyester print films, which could cause damage to the machinery if there was a jam.
Very cool. Reminds me of the years I spent replacing gears and oil on that model, on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ
The digital decoder is a Dolby DA-20. Usually quite a few on Ebay for very cheap. You need a special cable as well.
The bottom bit is a cue detector and failsafe. The potted deal is a triple proximity sensor: you attach 1/4" wide strips of metal tape to the film at centre, inner, or outer (or a combination). Different automations do different thongs with this info - some have coded cues (ie inner + outer turns the house lights on), other just see a cue and have the actions programmed in sequence for a show - first cue may be lamp on, lights off, sound on, and open the dowser for example, . The two optical sensors detect the film: one just that it's in there and one pointed at the sprocket holes can tell if it's in motion. The automation will shut the motor and lamp off if the film breaks or stops moving.
Again, you could find a compatible automation (probably a Component Engineering TA-10) pretty cheap if you wanted one.
Amazing the amount of technology to project film. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome! Great series. Keep up your videos!
That's right The cue detector pulses the automation to do the next item in the play list. You put the tape on the film at certain spots when you wanted something to happen like your sound to switch formats or your house lights to go up or down.
Awesome video! It’s hard to find videos about these 35mm projectors online with a host who knows a ton about it! 🎞 😎
Great tare down, but part of me felt very sad, I can't believe no one wanted that. Looked so well made and expensive.
Changes in pitch is not distortion, but wow or flutter depending on the type of variation.
I like the mini jack-hammer ;)
Nice, that you put the whole thing together again (have luck with the potted thing though). I also take many things apart and put them together in the "original" form, although I'd never use the things anyway. It's just for show. Sometimes there's a point of no return though. That's mostly on the second time of a teardown, when I need space to get some of my collected stuff out. :)
The anamorphic lens in a projector expands the image horizontally, not vertically. When you look into the lens and see the oval vertical... that's when it's in correct orientation to stretch horizontally. It's a prism.
Trabalhei 12 anos com esse projetor.. muito bom. Silencioso .
I heard an idea of using a flatbed scanner's sensor and a long focal length lens to make huge 10,000 pixel height panoramas by scanning the horizon. Gotta try that sometime.
Yes, it was sad to see the other 11 go to the scrap yard :( They don't build things this well anymore. My friend who works at the theater said the worst problem they ever had with these units was a broken spring on the arm that hold the film on the sprockets.
Could you dig into that motor? Curious to how a large synchronous motor like that works.
Thanks brother from India
Sure, I'll do a video on synchronous motors.
I once operated this model projector about a year ago, really, really awesome to see this tear-down and your awesome commentary. For the object at 29:29 I can tell you that it's most likely a device that senses a small metal tape, like you said, (placed on whoever built the film print) to cue a program automation. Check out my video on 35mm film projection. (just search for it in my channel) and you will see the device we have under the analog sound reader (different than what's in this video).
You can make with the dalsa sensor ultra wide photos,
1 pix height and 512 wide, ;)
Actually, this is a PR2000 Millennium, which is a desendant of the XL
That was about a US$25,000 projector. The projector itself cost more than the light house.
Well, he did say he was putting it back together afterwards
Only problem with this as a house unit would be that you'd need a whole room to hold your film collection...
11:35 I can't believe friction doesn't ruin it within weeks..
such a shame to see Mechanical technology made obsolete by cheap disposable digital technology, such a very well made unit :(
13 year old Digital projectors are still going strong
for 50Hz, you use a different size drive pully.
الله عليك يا سينما زمان كان في فن في كل حاجه في السينما
that brought back so many good memories, of course i had to do it alot faster
Aha a synchronous motor!
This projector plays the film to slow in Europe and other 50Hz country's,
Actually there are a lot of cool things you could do with a line camera
I would have kept the projector. Whats the point of tearing it apart? This thing has no reusable parts, just a bunch of special gearbox parts (scrap metal). It would be 1000% cooler to set this thing up as a home cinema. Thanks for the video anyway!
That poor cue detector!!!
LEGAL PACA BICHO, TREM CHIQUE UAI SÔ.
IDC: It doesn't connect!
WHY TEAR DOWN A WORKING MACHINE? IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH PARTS... WHY DON'T YOU JUST BUY PARTS? REDICULOUS!
+PAUL RICHEY Because the projector was (almost) free?
Not to mention that you have to be pretty dense to not notice that he puts it back together afterwards, and he specifically mentions several times in these videos that he wants it running to show it off.
The only way to learn is to tear it down and put it back together again. Great video. I worked on these mechs at Elstree Studios back in the 60s and 7os.