my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Old newspaper article about imported equipment... (Page 2)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Old newspaper article about imported equipment... Warren Smyth Expert Film Handler Posts: 158 From: Auckland ,New Zealand Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-04-2005 06:53 AM                     Andrew, your enquiry regarding possible sound systems imported from England and Cinemeccanica projectors, prompts me to mention that until the late sixties, Cinemecannica projectors were distributed to some countries eg New Zealand and Singapore through Rank in England. The sound systems were valve rack and panel Gaumont Kalee units made in England. Each rack consisted of three power amplifiers and accompaning power supplies. These racks were supplied in pairs to provide six channels for 70mm presentation. They were rated at 30watt each and used four KT66 valves in push pull parallel. The design dated back to their mono amplifiers developed for the Gaumont Kalee 21 projectors in 1946 by the British Accoustics company. I think this manufacturer was incorporated into Gaumont Kalee by Rank. Twelve preamps were provided, a set for each projector and these used EF86 valves. Kalee made the fader, switching and patching provision, using Jones plugs for running 4 track 35mm from the system as well. Kalee never made a 70mm projector. This sound equipment was their only involvement in the manufacture of 70mm technology. The equipment was supplied with Vic 10s but may have been used with 8s as well. The last of these valve installation here was in 1968. It now resides in my home theatrette and continues to give reliable service as well as plenty of heat in the winter from 48 valves.  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 02-04-2005 10:02 AM                     Rank closed down the Kalee projector line when they signed an agreement to distribute Cinemeccanica in all the countries that they had a marketing set-up.  |  IP: Logged Dick Vaughan Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1032 From: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK Registered: Jul 2000 posted 02-04-2005 10:43 AM                        In fact the Cinemeccanica Vic 8 was badged as R(ank)K(alee) 60 when it first went out to Oz and NZ.  |  IP: Logged Warren Smyth Expert Film Handler Posts: 158 From: Auckland ,New Zealand Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-05-2005 04:24 AM                     Just a point of clarification. I mentioned that Rank distributed Cinemaccanica projectors until the late sixties. I meant this in the context of mating them with the Kalee sound system as a complete projection plant. Naturally, Rank continued the distribution of Cinemecannic equipment including Cinemecannica solid state amplifiers into the seventies. Does anyone know what year the Kalee projector factory closed and what circumstances led to Kalee manufacturing ceasing? One theory I heard was that their development of a horizontal Vista Vision projector was a factor. Surely there must have been other reasons for the demise of such a successful projector.  |  IP: Logged Peter Hall Master Film Handler Posts: 314 From: London, UK Registered: Dec 2000 posted 02-05-2005 06:58 AM                        I guess that the constant leak problems prevented Simplex from making waterslides ? Norelco (Philips) did make one but you had to upgrade the structure of the pool to take the weight. Warren - at a guess i'd say you have the Westend's gear ? I ran these once with Terry Kerr - did they change to a single V5 before they closed ? The older guys ex Rank here will tell you that Rank killed Kalee due to rising costs and the availability of a cheap deal on Cinemecannica bought in lira. Did Kalee ever make a machine that you could change the aperture on without stopping ? Or a turret ? I guess the V4 / 9 / 8 were attractive options..  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-05-2005 09:37 AM                     quote: Warren Smyth Kalee never made a 70mm projector. I was told by several people that KAlee did produce a 35/70 prototype at Ranks request and that the development expense was very high.... ubn fact it took what was left of KAlees operating capitol to build the first machine. When Rank turned down the new Kalee in favor of the cheap Italian machines that in effect killed the company........ Does anyone know if this is really correct or did the folks in Miami just feed me another made up story? BTW: I also heard that the Kalee pool slide kept rusting badly during trials and was never marketed..... Mark  |  IP: Logged Bernard Tonks Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 619 From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England Registered: Apr 2001 posted 02-05-2005 11:43 AM                     I did read that Gaumont Kalee built a prototype 35/70 projector based on the ‘21’ model. No doubt the limited manufacture of the horizontal VistaVision projector did little to help the future of the company. There’s some information on Gaumont Kalee in the Picture Warehouse. Ian's big trip to Bradford, England  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 02-05-2005 03:15 PM                        Here's the Garrick's old equipment: (Compiled from many various sources over the last few years) Cinema 1: 2- Cinemecannica VICTORIA 10 Projectors 2- Xebex Supersol 4kw Lamphouses Cinemation MKIV Automation *A Potts Platter later replaced the right machine in 1999. Dolby Digital Sound Cinema 2: 2- Ballantyne VIP Pro 35 (35/70mm) Projectors 2- Strong Ultra 80 5kw Lamphouses Cinemation MKIV Automation *A Potts Platter later replaced the left machine in 1980. DTS Digital Sound Cinema 3: 2- Cinemeccanica VICTORIA 8 Projectors 2- Strong Super Lume-X 1.6kw Lamphouses BTS Pegboard Automation *A Potts Platter later replaced the right machine in 1980. Mono Sound Cinema 4: 2- Ballantyne VIP Pro 35 (35/70mm) Projectors 2- Strong Super 80 3kw Lamphouses BTS Pegboard Automation *A Potts Platter later replaced the left machine in 1999. Dolby Stereo Sound All had CP200s and 35/70mm capability. I don't know if or when the sound processors were updated.  |  IP: Logged Warren Smyth Expert Film Handler Posts: 158 From: Auckland ,New Zealand Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-08-2005 05:21 AM                     Peter - you're right. It's the Westend's amplifiers I have. Regarding the projectors, one of the Vic 10 projectors was replaced with a Vic 5 with the second Vic 10 retained for 70mm. This was probably when they went to platters from two machine operation. I had left the Westend some years earlier. Regarding your question on turrets, I believe Kalee never produced a projector with a turret. I heard that someone managed to convert a 21 for this purpose as well as a side operated aperture plate, facilitated by some extensive modification and engineering. The last model Kalee made was the GK37. This had an aperture plate which slid into the side of the gate block so it could be changed without unthreading. It was a smaller projector and the sound head formed part of the projector casting as a combined unit, rather than the separate component concept previously employed. The lamphouse was similar to the small Kalee Universal. The GK 37 was designed more for smaller auditoriums using 6mm neg and 7mm pos carbons. It was of lighter construction and used belts rather than a gear train to drive the film sprockets. A couple of pairs of GK37s are still in use here. I supplied a couple of gears and a lay on roller for a GK 21 recently. It was originally installed in the St James Auckland with it's mate in 1946 and must have been one of the first off the assembly line. They ran 4 sessions a day, six days a week and seven days a week from the seventies there. In the eighties, they were installed in a twin plex at Thames. I was informed by the manager, they have each run constantly ten hour days seven days a week since. Nearly sixty years, still showing a good picture and now with rear scan and cyan prepared - how is that for service?  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.