Heres the addy for anyone that wants to relay it to Mr. Sprague:

Aaron Sisemore
c/o Cinema West Theatres
PO Box 750595
Petaluma, CA 94975 http://www.cinema-west.com

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Robert Sprague replied:
When the Simplex XL Projector Head was introduced (circa 1949-50) it DID if fact have an attached "Screenscope" (mounted on front of head,just above the lens mount) which allowed the operator to sight thru and see a small close up of just a small portion of the screen: you could actually see perforations in the screen thru it!
It DID work--almost TOO well. It had a [right-angle] "elbow" in it.
[Sketch includes rubber eyecup and focus adjustment for different
operators]
All new Simplex XL heads were shipped with them, but they became unpopular (they were in the way of some Scope lenses)around 1953 when
Cinemascope arrived.
Many later XLs had the mount for them, even after Simplex quit
shipping them along with their machines!...You've probable seen the mount but didn't know what the heck they were!
Regards, Robert Sprague [Computerless in Petosky, MI]

Check out the 'State Theatre' in the Warehouse the big house there uses a screenscope for fine focusing.

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Dear Jeff ….etc.,

Aaron made two "typo goofs" when he posted my letter to him on the Film-Tech site, so I'll correct that first off:

1. BLPC was incorporated in 1911
2. RCA proj. arc lamps, "Line-ARC" should read "Wide-ARC"

To answer your comments and questions:

1. RCA logos were on the Brenkert-made RCA-100 (Brenkert BX-100) mechanism as well as "export models" of BX-40, BX-80, BX-60, BX-62.
2. The ENARC lamp was pretty distinctive: June 1936 (advertisement enclosed) **I have a copy of this and can scan and post if you all like** and picture at top of this letterhead had an ENARC lamp with the "optional" controlled-ventilation "streamline" hood.
3. 1.75:1 aperture plates **these were in my machines when I got them, which made me think they may have been out of service since the late 50's** used by some theaters starting around 1953 -54: it was a "compromise" aspect ratio that was halfway between 1.66 to 1 (European widescreen) and 1.85 to 1 (US widescreen and still current "flat" aspect ratio): so your BX-40's could have been used much later than you suspect!
4. Brenkert factory locations:
** Since I used to live in Detroit, I was curious about the factory location**

1905 - 1907 In the Brenkert family home in Highland Park, Mi. (addr unknown)

Circa 1907 - 1908 In a portion of Joseph Brenkert's downtown Detroit real-estate office (addr. Unknown)

Circa 1908 - 1925 In an old Brenkert family barn located at 49 Cortland Ave. Highland Park, MI

1925 - March 1946 At 7348 St. Aubin Ave at E. Grand Blvd, Detroit
** this is at the edge of the current GM Hamtramck assembly plant**

March 1946 - company closing (circa 1954) At 6545 St. Antoine Ave. just south of E. Grand Blvd in mid-town Detroit.

5. I had difficulty listing Detroit theaters **I had inquired about Detroit theaters having Brenkert gear, since I once lived there and had a few favorite movie houses** that had Brenkert equipment: This is an on-going slow project of mine! (I'm constantly working on it, to not much avail)

6. Serial numbers 5967 & 5968 **my BX-40's S/N's** probably made just at beginning of WW II or just after end of war. The BX-40 and BX-80 "shared" the same "series" of serial numbers, and as the first of the series was #5001, this means you have (in actual numbers!) the 967th and 968th Brenkert heads ever made. There was not a "date-code" in the serial numbers! My extensive research with family members has turned up no serial number or production records, unfortunately: But I know the following:

BX-40, BX-80 and BX-100 shared same number series, starting at #5001

BX-60 and BX-62 shared same number series, starting at #3001

Heads converted to BX-90 telecine model, numbers starting at #1001

7. Well, the A.S.M.P. **American Society of Master Projectionists - I had inquired about this** was "sort of" an idea of Karl Brenkert and Ernie Forbes (Detroit's RCA & Brenkert dealer) and it had limited membership, usually among friends of Karl and Ernie!!! (it is now, of course, defunct but I still consider it an honor of sorts to be involved!)

More on the BX-40 model - It was never advertised or promoted by either RCA or Brenkert! It's only differences from the BX-80 were that it had a single rear shutter rather than two counter rotating shutters of the BX-80. Also, they scrimped a few bucks by having the raised vertical "ribs" on the door painted (rather than polished un-painted as on the BX-80), Otherwise, it was the same as the BX-80! (The BX-40 was discontinued before 1948 introduction of the simpler (and cheaper) BX-60 mechanism.

Incidentally, after RCA "dumped" Brenkert in the mid-1950's, they basically threw away all the old Brenkert written records, etc. Ed Wolk in Chicago bought up all the on-hand Brenkert parts, etc., which RCA had stashed away in an old warehouse.

Would love to try to answer any more questions you may have! If I know, I'll let you know: If I don't know, I'll tell you I don't know. But I have about 100 pounds of Brenkert "paper" (research stuff, etc.)

Keep in touch, best regards, Robert Sprague

**I had told him I used to live in Michigan, and remembered possibly BX-80's in a small Michigan local theater that was operated by a friend of my father's back in the 60's his response:**

I'd inquired about what "Brenkert Oil" actually was...here are his comments:

"I don't know what Wolk is selling as "Brenkert Oil", but I will tell you this -

In 1948, when I worked at the factory, Brenkert was buying non-detergent light weight motor oil from Penzoil and putting it in Brenkert cans! It was light but I have forgotten the SAE no.

I do know it was non-detergent and this is most important.

I have 5 gallons of ISO-10 Anti-Wear high speed spindle oil from Chevron. Gonna try that stuff.

Sounds like we are getting into the same types of oil for soundheads?

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The ISO-10 Spindle oil looks like it may be what is needed, and I am going to send a gallon to Josh to run in one of his junk Brenkerts for evaluation purposes. From my experiments with it, it really looks promising. Heck, it is only 7 bucks a gallon, vs 8 bucks a pint for Wolk's Brenkert oil.

There's been a contingent on Film-Tech in the past that have
indicated that automatic transmission fluid will work fine. I know it's very light weight but not sure if it's ND. Not as cheap as the stuff you have, but lower cost than Wolk's oil and no shipping cost!