Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Is This Old Equipment Trash or Treasure?

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Topic: Is This Old Equipment Trash or Treasure?

Les Brock
Film Handler

Posts: 42
From: Basingstoke, Hamshire, UK
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 01-11-2003 06:26 AM

When I left Rank Film Labs London ( Now Deluxe ) in 1997 there was still a working pair of Simplex projectors with front shutters.

Apart from the odd oil leak they worked perfectly.

I doubt they are still in use now as the lab has put in Kinton projectors.

I would definitely recommend keeping the equipment even though there are parts missing.

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Bernie Anderson Jr
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 01-11-2003 08:59 AM

Firstly, DO NOT LET ANYONE THROW THEM OUT! Anything Western Electric is worth money. Universal bases are hard to come by, eventhough the preamp and optics have been gutted. You just don't see this stuff anymore in theatres. We have one complete restored simplex standard front shutter on WE with the vitaphone turntable. loews Jersey. And believe it or not alot of labs and screening rooms still use these projectors for dailies and color timing. For one thing you can tweek the intermittent to make it rock steady. The Super Simplex has this same capability. To people that don't know these projectors, think they're old and leaky, but until you work with them you won't understand how solid these early machines are.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-11-2003 10:13 AM

The front shutter simplexs in labs usually has a modified intermitent for a 5:1 pulldown as well as high speed operation

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 01-11-2003 10:40 AM

Bernie wrote:

quote:

We have one complete restored simplex standard front shutter on WE with the vitaphone turntable.

Bernie, is that machine in full working order, and do you ever run it?

Gordon wrote:

quote:

The front shutter simplexs in labs usually has a modified intermitent for a 5:1 pulldown

Why is this?

There are plenty of places still running '50s Westars, often with towers, xenon and Dolby stereo, and they still give good service, and probably will for some years to come. Older machines than this are rare in theatres now.

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 01-11-2003 05:35 PM

I did not realise how rare front shutter Simples Standards and Regulars are? I am restoring on now.

Randy, I know a collector who may be interested in either aquiring...or maybe be able to help you w/restoration.

I need to e-mail you this week about this person...it will be a few days as my e-mail access is limited.

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Lindsay Morris
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 233
From: Darlington, WA, Australia
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 01-11-2003 11:23 PM

Without a doubt.. absolute treasure. Don't throw out get them to someone over there who can do something with them.
I have a similar Simplex head complete as a silent operating machine setup with an old Powers condensor arc on the back. This still works and stands in the foyer of our outdoor cinema.
Dick Prather was able to date the machine as being 1922 vintage and when used on odd shows performs perfectly.
The soundheads look similar to what I am still currently running with on a commercial basis. Mine are 206B Western Electric and these look as if they were just a few issues ahead of what we still use. Even though ours are only setup for mono sound and still operate via the big old photocells thru a valve amp the sound is crystal clear.
Mine were in a similar state of disrepair before being restored and have never missed a beat for the last 7 years. So the potential is there to bring back to life a pair of remarkable old ladies.
Trashing them would be a crime. Well worth the effort to go to town and restore them. I only wish I lived closer than I do otherwise I would be banging at your door.
Lindsay

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 06-21-2005 12:05 PM

It has been 891 days since the last post.

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Dieter Depypere
Master Film Handler

Posts: 343
From: Deutsch-Wagram, Lower Austria, Austria
Registered: May 2005

posted 06-21-2005 12:05 PM

Never say "trash" to that one!! Me personally I like older equipment. Like Kino Drobollach still today has: 2 Philips FP 6 in nearly original condition, vacuum tube amps (Siemens Klangfilm), thyratron rectifiers. No automation system, no digital sound, no platter systems. This is cinema as it should be.

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