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Author Topic: Mag Penthouse Manufacturer - HELP! Dick Prather Master Film Handler Posts: 259 From: Portland, OR, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-11-2009 01:46 PM                     Westrex mag heads did the same as Ampex with the sprocket not turning if the shoe was left open. Weber mag heads probably did the same as they were made by Westrex. They changed it after serial # 100 or so to let the sprocket turn and make a loud buzzing sound until you closed the sprocket shoe. It got your attention. I can't think of any others that did that. Dick  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-12-2009 10:36 AM                     quote: Dick Prather Westrex mag heads did the same as Ampex with the sprocket not turning if the shoe was left open. Weber mag heads probably did the same as they were made by Westrex. Dick, Is that the Weber Machine Co. in Rochester,NY? I used to run a pair of their optical soundheads and had no idea they were still around in the scope era. Weren't the official Westrex heads supposed to be for export only? Bob  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-12-2009 05:09 PM                     I understood that the westrex mag head was sold in the US by Century itself probably unti; westrex introduced the 5000 35/70 machine and sold them in the US  |  IP: Logged Dick Prather Master Film Handler Posts: 259 From: Portland, OR, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-13-2009 02:33 PM                     Bob, that is indeed the Weber Machine Co. I think they were in business thru the mid 50's. I saw an add for the Weber 4-track penthouse and a fancy looking optical soundhead but never saw one in person. It looked indentical to the Westrex with a different door. Westrex did start as Western Electric Export. I am not sure when it became it's own company. They had a complete line of equipment for world wide sales. Most were close to Century designs. They were big in movie sound recording. I don't know if the Hollywood and UK were the same company. I thought Litton Industries owned them for a while in the US. Century sold the Westrex R-9 mag head and a nice little 4 channel sound system called the S-10. It could be placed against the front wall between the two projectors. Motiograph offered the same amp along with it's own. Dick  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-13-2009 08:01 PM                     This jogged my memory. I was told that Bill Ingram who ran Schine Theatres projector repair shop in Rochester had Weber make curved, water cooled gate assemblies for Simplex E7's. This was mentioned in International Projectionist. I think it was 1958. Bob  |  IP: Logged

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