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Author Topic: Advice Needed For Historic Theatre Adam Holland Film Handler Posts: 66 From: Oak Grove, LA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 12-24-2007 08:13 AM                     What is your opinion on Simplex XL Projectors?  |  IP: Logged Richard P. May Expert Film Handler Posts: 243 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Jan 2006 posted 12-24-2007 10:23 AM                     There will be a lot of pros and cons on these, but they are the old reliable machines in the production community. Most studio and laboratory screening rooms have been using them for years. I used XLs manufactured as far back as their introduction in 1949 in company screening rooms, with total reliability. RPM  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 12-24-2007 10:40 AM                        You will need to find a person or dealer who you can trust. The minefield is real. Sometimes you just have to pay for good advice and quality equipment. No one is going to do this for free, however. You do want to avoid the "sales bozo's." Stay with a technically based dealer. Louis  |  IP: Logged Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 12-24-2007 02:12 PM                     When the time comes to buy something, buy it from the person or company you got all the advice from or at least give them first shot at it.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-24-2007 02:42 PM                       "You will need to find a person or dealer who you can trust. The minefield is real. Sometimes you just have to pay for good advice and quality equipment. No one is going to do this for free, however. You do want to avoid the "sales bozo's." Stay with a technically based dealer." Louis Hear and heed this advice. There is a LOT of junk out there. Simplex or Century are both fine choices and good values can be had on either. There will be spare parts forever for small money with either of these so I would hesitate to go with anything else at this late date.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-24-2007 02:55 PM                     quote: Adam Holland What is your opinion on Simplex XL Projectors? My opinion varies from machine to machine... all of them even within the same model and type are very different! There are good and bad versions of every model made! It can cost a ton of money to put an old lazy XL or Century back into proper shape. I still favor the Century SA if you're not running grind... it has best film gate and trap design of all projectors made. BE VERY CAREFUL of different X-L models... there are TOO MANY gate/trap varieties out there... some that parts are NLA for... and you should stay away from any straight gate version of any projector completely. Newer Simplex's with turrets... except the current version of the PR-1014... to make room for the lens rotating around... these have the disadvantage of having the upper sprocket moved up... too high. This causes many problems if not threaded correctly including film scratching and strange band wear spots. Mark  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-24-2007 02:59 PM                     quote: Sam D. Chavez I would hesitate to go with anything else at this late date. Except say Kinoton or even Cinemeccanica though Kinoton is certainly my favorite. I think the key here is going with something from a model and manufacturer that has a bit of a history and following behind it. Century and Simplex have that in the US and there are more than one source for parts on them (on the wearables, at least). Kinoton and Cinemeccanica are well represented in both Europe (their home) and the US (both have North American distribution arms). Note too, the non-US companies are not seeing the fall off in sales that the doemestic companies are so they are still, very much, in the new euquipment biz. As to the question at hand, The Simplex XL has had a long and glorious life that owes excuses to nobody. Sure there are those that will like/dislike certain traits of it but 1/2 a Century of continious production can't be all wrong! The documentation on the projector is also one of the best of all time. While I don't consider it the best projector, it is far from the worst. If you are considering new equipment, then I suggest the Kinoton FP30E Premiere...by far the best picture and sound on the market today and also, by far, the most flexible in terms of configuration.  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia Registered: Dec 2005 posted 12-24-2007 04:48 PM                     Any chance of some more auditorium info, perhaps historical photos? What sort of style is the theatre, how many seats? Does it have a balcony? full backstage and flytower? any spare land, wasted space or car park? Any old equipment, old speakers, amps, seats (the real expense!)  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-25-2007 01:55 AM                       Lest I be misunderstood. my favoring Simplex and Century was specific to this situation where it seems clear to me there very little money, so used projectors are the order of the day and there are very few low cost Kinoton laying about.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-25-2007 08:27 AM                     FP20s or even DP75s can be found laying around...maybe not quite in abundance as SAs or XLs...they have XLs. However, an FP20 (or FP30) uses the same gate design as the current mechanical machines. I'm sure various Cinemeccanica machines are also available (V5s and V8s as well as others but those are still in production). Steve  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-25-2007 11:19 AM                       Again, inexpensive and practical is the order of the day and access to spare parts, familiarity and simplicity are also good things in this application. No one argues the quality of Kinoton equipment, but this is not the AFI. Merry Christmas Steve.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-25-2007 08:37 PM                     Gee Steve... You made a big deal out of telling a whole group of us at Showeast...Sam included... that you intended to sell nothing but Kinoton and you were totally done with all other brands of equipment... You must be getting alot of free airplane rides these days.... . Mark  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 12-26-2007 07:11 AM                        Mark: how can I get the free airplane rides? No company has paid my expenses anywhere since the introduction of the CP-50. Even with being the family of a pilot, I never see an empty seat so I have yet to fly free. Apparently I don't rate?? Louis  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-26-2007 10:07 AM                     Gee Mark, what is your point? I don't recall holding court to make a "big deal" out of what I will or wouldn't sell. It is true that for new projectors, I find the Kinoton, paticularly the E-premier machines, so far and away superior to the rest that it makes the most sense for those that can afford it. I've always been about putting out the best picture/sound possible for a given venue...there is nothing inconsistant there. In this thread, I've promoted Kinoton as a new option as it would offer an improvement as to what is already there. You may have noted on the 35/70 discussion that if used is to be considered, that I've noted the very small differential cost between Simplex and Century 35/70 machines and their 35mm only counterparts (with an edge to the Century JJ). On the used subject, I've noted that it is wise to keep to the long established brands and models that parts will be plentiful from, including noting that Simplex/Century have multiple sources for parts. I have defended Kinoton as a used projector potential since such machines as the FP20 and the FP30 also have a long history behind them, the FP30 is in current production but that the FP20 uses essentially the same parts and both have an abundance of support, including a US division. Even though I don't care for Cinemeccanica, I have also noted that they too can make similar claims, particulalry on the V5 and V8 models. So again, what is your point? Are you implying that I must be getting some sort of free travel from Kinoton to promote them? If so, then sorry no but perhaps that explains why you promote some of the things you post about...why else would you even bring it up? Steve  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-26-2007 12:19 PM                       Steve, it's a joke and a jab as you no doubt know. A thick skin is required in this forum. AFAIK, the last graft was some years back at a well known east coast chain no longer here. I go with Kinoton every time on new equipment, but of course money this is the whole point here. Simplex and Century can both be had for the cost of a bad set of pots and pans or perhaps a run of the mill cheap stove which is a sad commentary. The original scope lenses back in the 50's, or as it's now known, mid century, cost something like $2,000. We're coming to the end of an era.  |  IP: Logged

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