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Topic: Platter Preferences--CFS Super Platter or anything else

James Faber
Film Handler

Posts: 66
From: Des Moines, Iowa , USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 02-04-2005 04:12 AM

Christian, tell me about it. I'm working with 4 LP-270s right now. Fortunately, I did convince Mr. Money Man to get a retrofit kit for one of them, and trying to get the other 3 soon. When I first started working with them, I had a lot of wrapping problems, but I've gotten used to them, and haven't had any problems for a long time(but, I still have to fix other people's stupid mistakes. They call me at home to come fix their problems). Did SPECO do any better with the LP-280's?

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Joshua Waaland
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 02-04-2005 06:53 AM

James,

Funny thing is that when I worked for the theater with the super platters, the manager would call me at home on my days off to come help her when the platter would act up. i.e. thrown prints.

I only lived 5 minutes away. Several times I was called when the theater was full of people and had to come fix the platter (was a 5 deck that serviced two screens) and get it back up and running for the audience. One time she called me and I got there and the print was a heap of spaghetti. I told her she was crazy if she thought I was getting that print back together in a reasonable amount of time. I made her give everyone rainchecks.

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Pete Wolla
Film Handler

Posts: 71
From: Tioga, ND, USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 02-06-2005 05:57 PM

in a single screen with only 3 shows per week. the cfs does the job.with a hula hoop on the platter no thrown prints did have one brain wrap. no need to move prints. had to use the wifes vaccum cleaner belts once

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Jason M Miller
Master Film Handler

Posts: 284
From: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 02-06-2005 06:06 PM

The only platters I have ever used are Strong Platters so no opinion here.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-06-2005 06:50 PM

The Super Platter is a POS. Admittedly, I've only worked with one (Peter is familiar with the venue in question), but it's always sort of an adventure to run that booth. The odd part is that every show I've run there has been a perfect presentation so far, though I fully expect a disaster there someday. I hate the MUT, too.

The only platter that I've worked with for any extensive period of time in a number of different theatres has been the AW3 (and AW3R) and that is definitely a quality piece of equipment. I have no complaints, other than a bad batch of motor cards and various bad batches of drive pucks (both problems now corrected). I've had exactly one (minor) brainwrap, and that was my fault when changing trailers too quickly. I've never seen a thrown print or even heard of it happening in this area on Christie platters.

I do prefer the older AW3s (1979 "Anniversary" version) with all the upgrades and the removable brain modification, but the newer ones work fine too.

The SPECO LP-270 design is OK. I don't like the old horizontal MUT, but that has been replaced with a much better design (which I haven't personally worked with, but all indications are that it works well).

I've threaded Xetron 5-deck platters and a Neumade a couple of times each, but I don't really have an opinion about any of them. I've never run Strongs. Note that I'm referring to running 35mm film on these platters; my experience with 16mm and 70mm has always been reel-to-reel.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-06-2005 07:52 PM

quote: Joshua Waaland
I only lived 5 minutes away.

A very bad situation for your self in this buisness no matter what!

Mark

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Jannette McQueen
Film Handler

Posts: 50
From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 02-07-2005 05:21 PM

I've only worked on Strongs and Kinotons .... and though I know people might think me crazy, I like the Strongs better. I will find myself complaining about the Kinotons quite often, but with the Strongs, never. Maybe it's just the sentimental attachment to the platter I trained on.

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Chris Hipp
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1462
From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas)
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 02-07-2005 05:33 PM

Which model of strongs? I have only worked with the Phas control and SCDC platter and have never had major problems with them. They do have some design flaws, ofcourse. From my understanding, the older models are much less reliable.

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James Faber
Film Handler

Posts: 66
From: Des Moines, Iowa , USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 02-09-2005 04:01 AM

Joshua and Mark - I've considering moving to another town, but still working at the same place for that very reason!

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