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Author Topic: Projector Age Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-11-2004 09:01 PM                        For those who may or may not care, I dug out the paperwork for my projectors to check on the original price. The quote (from Capitol Motion Picture in NYC, which I believe still exists) in 1970 was for $9938.29, which is roughly equivalent to $47,780.24 in 2004 dollars. The original quote included the following items: - 2x Century MSA projector heads - 2x Century soundheads with "completely transistorized" model 67 sound system - 2x Century 4-point pedestals with lamphouse mounting support table - lens adapters, stop rings, aperture plates - 2x Kneisley L100 lamphouses and R2180 rectifiers with 3 bulbs (includes one spare) - 4x B&L lenses (2 flat, 2 scope); 2x ISCO scope lenses - 1x University Column speaker - Hurley matte screen and screen frame - other stuff: 1x set handcrank rewinds, 1x Neumade cement splicer, 12x house reels, 1x pint film cement, 1x gallon projector oil, 2x Hatke reel end alarms, 2x zipper changeovers ("no foot switches"), 1x Clint Phare cue marker, 1x oil can, 1x spare motor drive belt, 3x takeup belts. That price almost seems high, when compared to what similar equipment would cost if purchased new today.  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 10-11-2004 09:07 PM                    Consider the quality of today's product.  |  IP: Logged Bill Carter Expert Film Handler Posts: 162 From: Minneapolis, Minnesota Registered: Sep 1999 posted 10-12-2004 03:14 PM                     Capitol in NYC does indeed still exist.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-12-2004 09:37 PM                     quote: Steve Kraus Consider the quality of today's product. Thats definately not totally true. There are many improvements over older produced projectors. On Centurys and Simplexs most notably the main castings are far, far superior to tke older porus crap castings that were produced. Strong's foundry is definately doing a great job there. Simplex's if properly maintained leak alot less than they used to..... but on the other hand the movements are very inferior to what was actually made by Simplex in their heyday. As for others... the Christie P-35 has gone through many gestations and versions, usually an improvement. The latest and final version is actually an excellent projector, it will be discontinued soon in favor of an all new belt scheme that utilizes round tooth timming belts and hard coat/teflon pulleys. This version eliminates one sprocket completely and the sound head and SRD basement reader work perfect. I've also seen far fewer failures of Ultramittents in the last year. One would assume that other manufacturers(except Shakeamecannica with the stupid curved gate for the Vic 5)has made some strides as far as improvement. Mark [ 10-12-2004, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: Mark Gulbrandsen ]  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 10-14-2004 10:18 AM                    How funny...considering I learned older was better from you.  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 10-21-2004 11:59 AM                     Not an exact date, but the JJ's I worked with (ser# 158 & 159 - not far from Rich F.'s #164) were, I was told, installed for 'West Side Story' (1961.)  |  IP: Logged Nathan Guerriero Film Handler Posts: 43 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 10-21-2004 01:11 PM                     The Biograph Theartre JJs, so recently decomissioned, are SN #147 and 148. Over the years, #148 has generously donated a few parts to his younger brother, but for the most part they are both in excellent condition.  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-21-2004 04:15 PM                     John and Nathan, Did your JJ's have H type gates and traps or A type? Thanks  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 10-21-2004 05:46 PM                    Wouldn't #147 be the older brother? I wonder where they came from. They couldn't have pulled much 70mm duty at the Biograph.  |  IP: Logged Nathan Guerriero Film Handler Posts: 43 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 10-21-2004 07:37 PM                     Yes, apologies to all. JJ #147 would indeed be the older brother. I'm afraid I don't have any firm answers to either of your questions, Steve, but please allow me to speculate: I have no idea where the JJs came from, but I seem to remember James Bond mentioning to me that they were installed sometime in the 80s when Cineplex Odeon took over the theatre. The projectors are tagged with Cineplex ID tags and the automation control panels have the Cineplex Odeon logo on them. As for what kind of use they saw, I can say that in 4 years at the helm of the theatre, neither saw any 70mm. The booth seemed well equiped for it, though. All the gates, traps, rollers, lenses, etc. were present, as well as a pristine 70mm splicer. The platters had 35/70 rollers on them as well. On one of the 70mm big reels there was a trailer for Coming to American, so you know, draw your own conclusions.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-21-2004 08:03 PM                     There are two possibilities judging by the serial numbers..... They're either from the Michael Todd Theatre or the Esquire. Now the Esquire ean alot of 70mm up to the end when Esanness(more like B&S)had it. With that low of a serial number the first choice would be my bet. No one ever seemed to know where the Todd JJ's went..... you may have solved that. BTW: The Cinestage had DP-70's but the booth in the Todd right next door was too small for the DP's so they used JJ's, both had Super Cinex's. Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 10-22-2004 10:57 AM                    A reliable source says the Biograph JJ's came out of Minnesota. He also mentioned that Lonny Jennings was keeping a database on JJ's just as others have tracked Norelco DP-70/AA-II's. (Can you imagine a DLP unit ever having such a devoted following?)  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 10-22-2004 07:37 PM                     Hi Robert: I'm not sure what H or A type gates/traps are... Are they the ones that were reversed, ie: the old type where the curved runners were on the 'lamp' side, as compared to the current style where the runners are on the 'lens' side? If so, yes, but we never used the 'old' style. Someone told me they weren't as steady. I took a picture of them years ago, but I doubt I could find it now. Neither #158 or #159 are in service, having been 'parted' out a few years ago, but they could be returned to working order. They were rebuilt by Century in 1982, who I guess were still were having labor problems, since they did a rather poor job. In 1982, they apparently were just in the process of changing the paint colors for their projectors. I was able to talk someone there into painting them the original gray/brown (not sure exactly what that color was) texture paint. When Century looked up the original PO from the serial numbers, we found they had been purchased by a company in New York state we had never heard of... so how they came to live their entire life in Stamford, CT is still a mystery to me.  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 08-09-2006 12:01 PM                 It has been 655 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-09-2006 12:01 PM                        Bump. So, how significant is that serial number 500? JJs s/n 513 and 514 will be going to their new home fairly soon. They look to be in great condition, but we haven't run them yet (I removed them from their old home last weekend). With luck, they should run 70mm someday soon (though the theatre owner needs to be convinced to buy a new screen first).  |  IP: Logged

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