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Author Topic: Cummings and Wilson (C&W) projectors Henry Titchen Film Handler Posts: 31 From: Singleton, NSW, Australia Registered: May 2005 posted 04-28-2006 07:28 PM                     Does anyone have any knowledge of a rough Chronology/Timeline for the Cummings and Wilson /Raycophone projectors? I know of the following units: C&W P4 head C&W P5 head C&W P6 head C&W Model E,G Raycophone J1 Raycophone J3 Raycophone CP7 Raycophone CP10 An ideas on when these units were made? Are there other models? Henry. [ 04-30-2006, 02:43 AM: Message edited by: Henry Titchen ]  |  IP: Logged Stephen Jones Master Film Handler Posts: 314 From: Geelong Victoria Australia Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-01-2006 08:27 PM                     Hi Phillip, Yes that is a Western Electric sound head on the C&W.Had that same model at the Paragon Theatre in Queenstown Tas when I first started in the industry many moons ago and the were still in use when the theatre closed in 1985,they had Centrex projectors on them.Used the C&W projectors a few times over the years and found them to be a good projector requireing little maintainence and were chain driven same as the Kinoton is today. Cheers Steve  |  IP: Logged Phillip Grace Expert Film Handler Posts: 164 From: ACMI. Melbourne. Australia. Registered: Mar 2004 posted 05-09-2006 12:24 AM                     Here is some information I have picked up over the years on the different types of C+W mechanism. Model (A) Approximately 6 manufactured. None know to survive. Model (B) Built 1923 onwards. Over 200 manufactured. This is the larger "Senior" pattern. Front shutter. Framing moves entire film motion plate, other than the gate, up and down. Double-bearing intermittent. 2 inch lens mount with rack and pinion focus. Many subsequently rebuilt to later models, such as E and (possibly) EH. Model (D) C. 1929. Very similar to "B" with the addition of a sliding mask in the gate to cover soundtrack area of film. Model (E) Available in 1930's. "Senior" pattern. Large rear shutter in external case. Maybe new build or factory conversion from earlier machines. Stepped lens mount with vernier focusing. Model (H) Also "Senior" pattern. Small diameter rear shutter inside main case. Stepped lens mount. Model (EH) Last of the "Senior" pattern. Large diameter rear shutter in external case. Improved lens mount for large diameter lenses. Micrometer focusing. Model (P5) Introduced c. 1932. Compact completely redesigned mechanism intended for use on portable sound machines. Lightweight construction. Known as the "Junior". Rear shutter usually in external case. Short gate. 2" diameter lens mount. Micrometer focusing. Single-bearing intermittent. Often seen on Raycophone J1 portable system. Also used on stationary projectors. Model (P6) Slightly taller than P5. Otherwise similar. Has longer gate with two sets of pads. Rear shutter usually small diameter inside main case. (less efficient as a result) Fitted to the earlier (c 1937) Raycophone J3 machines. Also seen on Raymac equipment. Model (P7) Last of the "Junior" construction. Has the long gate of the P6 and the large external shutter of the P5. Often found inside the Raycophone J3 light transportable projector and their CP7 stationary machine. Model (P8) A more rugged construction of the same basic design, including cast aluminium covers. Improved lens mount for faster lenses. Model (M1) A further development of the design, with some operator friendly refinements. Double bearing intermittent. Appears to have been a separate picture head to be fitted to various makes of soundhead. Often seen seen on Raymac stationary projectors. Model (M2) The M1 as fitted inside the Raycophone CP10 projector. Solid construction and reasonably efficient optically. Water cooling to gate. Model (G) A separate heavy duty picture head with design and construction distinctly different from other models. Similar to Century and Australian "Super Standard" Heavy cast case. Contra-rotating rear shutters. Double-bearing intermittent. Large diameter lens mount. Optional air cooling and water cooling to gate. Believed introduced in middle 1950's. Also found in drive-ins. Will match all makes of soundhead. Had a reputaion for being very noisy. There appear to be two runs of serial numbers. The first series applies to the "Senior" pattern and appears to have begun at #1 and be progressive throughout those models. Model B and E machines have their date of manufacture stamped into the frame. The second series of numbers appears to have begun at #1 with the P5 and to be continuous through to the M2. I have not been able to establish where the model G fits in this scheme. Production of the C+W appears to have ceased with the M2 in the early 1970's. There would appear to have been in excess of 2000 units produced over the life of the company. If anyone can add to or wants to correct any of this information I would be interested to hear from them. Cheers.  |  IP: Logged Paul Trimboli Master Film Handler Posts: 274 From: Perth Western Australia Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-13-2007 12:09 AM                     One of the members of The Australian Museum of Motion Picture Technology has put together a great history on C&W projectors and even tracked down copied of all the patent photos. You can view all this now I have uploaded it to our website. Cumming and Wilson History There are lots of great photos there too!  |  IP: Logged David Kilderry Master Film Handler Posts: 355 From: Melbourne Australia Registered: Sep 1999 posted 03-16-2007 11:03 AM                        Very interesting page Paul. Richard acknowledges the photo suppliers, but who supplied all the technical information for the article? Is the Super Standard and the other Fittons projectors next? David  |  IP: Logged Paul Trimboli Master Film Handler Posts: 274 From: Perth Western Australia Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-16-2007 08:24 PM                     David the technical info was also put together by Richard, that is my fault for not also putting that with the acknowledgements at the bottom, but the top of the page I put written by Richard Ashton. There will be more pages about various Australian made equipment, depending on who sends in stuff to be posted! We watched a really interesting video of a tour of the Raycophone factory at out last meeting. It was from 1935 and showed the motion picture part and then the radio parts of the factory.  |  IP: Logged

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