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Topic: Christie pulls its film line of equipment

Matt Skilton
Film Handler

Posts: 43
From: Bromley, Kent, UK
Registered: May 2009

posted 10-02-2009 08:02 AM

A shame but not a surprise. Our site uses both Christie platters and lamphouses and I like them, but at least they'll continue to make spares for them.

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Bernard Tonks
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 619
From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 10-02-2009 11:25 AM

quote: Steve Guttag
Strong always had a better export business and is likely keeping their manufacturing going. Century never sold as well as the Simplex, especially on Export. I'd think you can still buy a Century as they are still in the price sheet but I'd be surprised if they are really cranking them out.

There are quite a few Century installations in the UK, the last one I saw (with Strong Platters) was at the Vue Greenwich (The O2) is an exciting new cinema experience for London. The fantastic cinema features state-of-the-art technology and the biggest screen in London. It is situated next to North Greenwich tube station, in the building previously known as the 'Millennium Dome'.

Screen 11: 776 seats, 200 of these seats are in the balcony 'Premium' and situated in a mezzanine (over 18s only) , which is located towards the rear of the auditorium. Not sure of the screen size but a rough estimation was at least 80 foot scope width. The film was partly subtitled, and I was impressed with the rock steady picture.

Website: http://www.myvue.com/

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 10-02-2009 11:38 AM

Sure there are plenty of Century projectors around...in the US as well...just never as many as Simplex...I think I heard the ratio was on the order of 10:1.

Steve

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Damien Taylor
Master Film Handler

Posts: 493
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2007

posted 10-02-2009 12:05 PM

Didn't Century start out as a generic parts manufacturer for Simplex machines, that ended up making a Simplex clone? Or am I thinking about someone else?

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 10-02-2009 12:14 PM

FYI: Century IS Western Electric. The same factory that made the Universal base and the #1 soundhead, was still cranking when Western Electric "divested" its many businesses.

Amps & speakers became "Altec."
Transformers became "Peerless."
Sprocketed equipment became "Century." Louis

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Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-02-2009 12:23 PM

Century is way more popular than Simplex over here.

A lot of former Warner (now Vue) sites have them, although they do have some Simplex. Showcase use Century, as do some of the former UCI (now Odeon) sites. Apollo & Reel cinemas have some and many indpendant cinemas use Century. I can think of only two sites in my patch that are Simplex.

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 10-02-2009 02:31 PM

quote: Jack Theakston
Got along without you before I met you
Gonna get along without you now
Gonna find somebody who's twice as cute
'Cause I didn't like you anyhow

ROFL!!

That's the funniest thing I've heard all week! [Wink]

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Ian Parfrey
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1049
From: Imbil Australia 26 deg 27' 42.66" S 152 deg 42' 23.40" E
Registered: Feb 2009

posted 10-02-2009 03:48 PM

..."parts and upgrade kits will remain available for as long as our customers require them"

Hmmm, so that technically means they wont stop production. [Confused]

Agree with Mark on this one- its marketing strategy all the way. Now, if Century were discontinued, that would be tragic.

Cheers

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Scott Norwood
Film God

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

posted 10-02-2009 04:41 PM

I wonder what it would cost to build an AW3 platter out of parts. I also wonder what would happen if someone called them on November 1 and tried to order an entire multiplex worth of equipment. Would they really say no?

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 10-02-2009 05:02 PM

Odds are they have enough to build or have built several of their stuff. I would think it would depend on the size of the order. Ramping down a production line probably has meant layoffs...and making a small run isn't quite as easy as just pushing a button to turn it back on again.

Steve

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Dick Prather
Master Film Handler

Posts: 259
From: Portland, OR, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-03-2009 12:47 AM

Sam Kaplan, a NYC Local #306 projectionist, started making "Kaplan Sure Fit" replacement parts for Simplex projectors in his machine shop. I think sometime in the early 1930's.

He also sold Kaplan (Sure Fit) projectors, a Simplex clone, in both front and rear shutter versions. Later a Super Kaplan which was a Simplex clone with a Century C type lens mount

I think in the late 1930's Sam Kaplan's Company. was bought out and it became Century Projector Corp. Their first machine was the Century K, a Simplex clone, with a complete line of parts in plain yellow boxes with numbers stamped on them. Part numbers were the same as Simplex.

The first Century C & CC versions came out in 1940 with cast iron frames. I have heard different stories about the design of the C. Larry Little of Los Vagas told me he gave a pencil drawing of a simple vertical shaft machine to Sam Kaplan. Another one was a large theatre chain did not like Simplex equipment and wanted something simple and different. I am not sure which if either is true. If anyone has any information on this I would love to hear it.

Western Electric Exports under the Westrex name was a licensed exporter of Century machines. Australia was licensed to make and sell them under the Centrex name. Lots of them still running.
Dick

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 10-03-2009 08:25 AM

"Supposed to last "a Century." Louis

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 10-03-2009 08:57 AM

quote: Dick Prather
Larry Little of Los Vagas told me he gave a pencil drawing of a simple vertical shaft machine to Sam Kaplan.

Throughout my career, I have met no less than three guys (projectionists), all who claimed to have designed the Simplex XL projector. [Roll Eyes]

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Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God

Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 10-03-2009 11:31 AM

quote: Tim Reed
Throughout my career, I have met no less than three guys (projectionists), all who claimed to have designed the Simplex XL projector. [Roll Eyes]

There was only one true designer of the Simplex XL..a man by the name of Howard Straight. (I hope I have the last name spelled correctly..)

I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times and he was a mechanical genius. If you could think of a way to do something with an XL he could make it happen. He had actually designed and prototyped an XL for Vistavision!!

I learned quite a lot from him before he passed away, a true gentleman and always willing to help out.

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Bob Koch
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 183
From: williams ca
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 10-03-2009 02:14 PM

Tony; I completely agree, Howard was a great guy and helped me out many times.

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