This is topic Brekert owners in trouble in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 03-29-2001, 10:42 PM:
It appears brenkert has tossed their entire supply of Brenkert and Motiongraph parts. anyone know more?Josh
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-29-2001, 11:23 PM:
Well Brenkert has been out of business for many years but I think you are reffereing to Edward H. WOlk and I doubt they trhough out anything. I don know they quit making or stocking most motiograph parts years ago
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 03-29-2001, 11:29 PM:
Oops! That's what I ment to sayJosh
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-29-2001, 11:43 PM:
Hi Josh - As far as I know, common parts for Brenkerts are still available. Just like the Simplex Super and E7 projectors, there are many Brenkerts still in service throughout the US. Those older machines were so over-designed, they simply "Refuse To Die." Too bad they don't make the newer crap that way anymore.
Seems like the new projectors made today are designed to last through the warranty which expires on the full payment of the invoice.
The HALF-SHAFT and FULL SHAFT law applies.
Half-Shaft is what you get if the machine fails under warranty.
Full-Shaft is what you get if the machine fails after a half of a day or more out of warranty, depending what time zone you are in with respect to the manufacturing point. 
I have heard that Motiograph parts are getting scarce, and if you can find them, they are very expensive.
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 03-30-2001, 01:01 AM:
I was just at Charlie Wolk's place last week,
Indeed, the new owner of the Edw. H. Wolk Co., Inc. (Don Marcus) has done quite a bit of housekeeping prior to moving the company from downtown Chicago out to Arlington Heights.
He has dumpstered all carbon arc lamp parts, (Strong, Peerless, Brenkert and Ashcraft) All obsolete Motiograph parts (for projectors & soundheads) All Wenzel projector parts (Same as Simplex Standard) And a good lot of theRCA / Brenkert parts. He will continue to make
replacement parts for theRCA soundheads (Mainly gearboxes) And most the Brenkert stuff remaining is limited to stock on hand.
It was quite a sight to see, as I had seen all four floors at the 1241 S. Wabash ave. shop that wolk occupied for over 50 years, then about five years ago, it was condensed down (All 16mm stuff went in the dumpster) when Wolk moved to the location I visited last week.(921 S. Jefferson Ave) Now more downsizing to a shop 1/2 the size near O'Hare airport! I guess it's the end of an era, as the last of the 'old time' manufacturers moves into the 21st century! Don Marcus will continue operating as the Edw. H. Wolk Co.
and as always will make high quality repair parts mainly for more current equipment like Simplex E-7, XL, SH-1000 & SH-1012, Century C, H, SA, R3 & R6, Some Christie parts, and remain the sole jobber to us dealers for La Vezzi Precision parts. Aside from thesadness as described above, I was able to rescue from
oblivion a few items for my collection...a nice Simplex SI projector (Made for export only) and the remains of the only known RCA
'All American' Projector (Also for export
only) a couple of Gardiner projectors, a threesome of Powers 6 heads (mainly parts)
and several GPL (Simplex) 35mm Telecine units
plus a beautiful Ampro-Arc 16mm in a road case, 300 lbs of old books & manuals dating back to the 1890s, and about 1500 lbs of other misc. stuff! So my trip was well worth it! Don will be completely moved this weekend and will start operations at the new location on Monday. ------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-30-2001, 01:16 AM:
Why isn't the Wolk website updated?How can they get rid of the Motiograph and Brenkert parts? We still run Motiograph soundheads at the Skyline drivein and Motiograph AA projectors at the Chehalis Theater. I much rather prefer this old equipment over the new stuff any day. It's simply built to last.
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 03-30-2001, 01:22 AM:
Hi Ken, I am sure that Don will be updating the site soon, as for the parts, I am sure you know that the Motio stuff has been on a 'stock at hand' basis for at least the last 10 years! That's why there has not been any AX-131 intermittent sprockets available for about 6 years! I think Don looked at the last 5 or so years sales data and found that the Motio & Brenkerts stuff just wasn't moving, thus in a new place with limited space, storage of obsolete parts and slow moving parts is just not good business sense! That's why there are a few dealers like myself that have managed to hoard some of this obscure stuff through the years! (Plus, in my case, storage space is cheap!) So hopefully, us dealers can help you 'keep 'em rolling' for years to come! ------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 03-30-2001, 08:23 AM:
<<I originally posted this information on 12-04-2000>>I bought some parts for my Brenkert's from "Sonic Sales & Service" several months back. I was told by the folks at Ed Wolk in Chicago, that they sold there entire Brenkert parts inventory to "Sonic Sales & Service".
The parts I recieved were NOT N.O.S., but scavenged.
You can contact them at the address below.
Sonic Equipment Company
P.O. Box 381
210 N. Washington Street
Iola, Kansas 66749
Phone: (316) 365-5701
Fax: (316) 365-2753
Hope this helps
------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)
Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 03-30-2001, 08:40 AM:
I'll put in a good word for Eric and Jim at Sonic Sales. As distributors of my software, I've dealt with them for a number of years and found them fair, honest, and reliable. Sonic builds theatres in the midwest, services B&B Theatres, and there is at least one person working on repairs and rebuilds at the shop most of the time.FWIW, When I hear of warehouses of equipment being dumpstered, I think of eBay. There are a lot of collectors of strange stuff, and old manuals, etc. could be quite collectable. A couple of days with a digital camera and a lot of that "junk" could be turned into cash.
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 03-30-2001, 10:38 AM:
Wait a minute.
The BX 100 was bought by RCA right? well, wouldn't parts from RCA for the 100 still be avalable?Josh
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-30-2001, 12:43 PM:
Barry, I think those folks in Kansas are the ones that bought most of my Brenkerts about 6 years ago. They even came and picked them up. I had 13 of them, and I sold the whole shebang for $1.00 a pound, even the ones that were total junk. Jerry, If it was Sonic Sales that bought my old Brenkerts, I certainly agree with you about Jim and Eric being very fair, honest, and reliable. Wonderful people.
Josh, The BX-100 was made by Brenkert for RCA. I could be wrong, but the last Brenkert was made in the very early 1950's.
Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 03-30-2001, 01:22 PM:
The only place I remember seeing a pair of RCA/Brenkert BX-100's in action was at the "Parkway Drive-In Theatre" in Maryville, Tennessee. They have two of them running 6000' reels w/ changeovers. I've got pictures and video of them at home.If I recall, they machines bore the Brenkert logo on the castings as well as the RCA logo in red on the glass? Cool looking machines, the rear gear door housing is all glass. (like my XL)
------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)
Posted by Joe Smith (Member # 190) on 03-30-2001, 02:42 PM:
Hull's Drive-In in Lexington, Va. still has their original Brenkert BX100's which were installed in 1950. They're only using 1 now, with a platter. The other one has been removed and was kept for parts.Hull's opens for the season on friday the 13th....... www.hullsdrivein.com
Joe
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 03-30-2001, 03:02 PM:
The Telluride Film Festival has 8 Brenkerts in action and 6 Century's. The Brenkerts are robust and reliable machines. I beleive they also have a pair of Brenkerts no currently in use.From what I have heard, there are many Brenkerts still in action around the country.
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 03-30-2001, 04:08 PM:
Actually, Edw. H. Wolk Co. remains SOLE owner to the manufacturing rights and trademark rights to Brenkert & RCA motion picture apperatus. I have known Charlie Wolk for over 25 years now and have had many discussions with him pertaining to history of the Wolk Co. As far as I know, up untill the last month, they retained all the RCA & Brenkert
parts they have had for decades. Charlie had not sold any mass quantities of Brenkert OR the rights to it to anyone. Don Marcus (New owner of Wolk) Still retains these rights and
lots of the high turnover parts. I would have to assume the guys who said they bought the stuff may have stocked up on parts knowing
what was in store!!! Good luck!!------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-30-2001, 08:24 PM:
To all that are not aware. Unfortunately the best part of the Wolk Company will no longer be with them. Norm Lauderbach the main man there(he was actually more the main man than Charlie) is not moving with Don to the Chicago suburbs. Without Norm being there its hard to believe that there will be any semblence of organization. I hope that Norm has changed his mind on this.....
Mark @ GTS
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 03-31-2001, 01:58 AM:
Mark, I am afraid Norm will be retired! I had lunch with him and Charlie last week. I met Norm's replacement, Tony (Ex theatre manager)
His new shop looks good! I think he will carry the torch well (Don that is) He gave me a sample of his new 'plastic' RCA 26241 gear!
I am going to field test it for him, he is also cutting the Simplex gear out of this material...(It looks pretty strong!) Norm and wife are going south for a few months to take a break! With La Vezzi slowing down, it appears there is no place for Norm to go, so he told me he may stay in the machinist trades..(He is an excellent machinist) He definitely will not be commuting to Arlington Hts! Yes...the end of an era! ------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-31-2001, 02:27 AM:
Plastic 26241? Hmmmm. I wonder how it will hold up under a big heavy Brenkert. You know, seems to me that if would hold up in a 1040 without a flywheel on the motor, it might just make the grade. The bronze gears get hammered to a pulp in those 1040's, especially when the projectionist bumps his machine forward with the motor switch.
As a passing thought, bumping the projector forward with the motor should never be done on ANY projector! A Piggly Wiggly No-No! Newbies, please heed. 
Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 03-31-2001, 08:31 AM:
Paul, I'll agree that motor bumping puts excess wear on a projector, but in situations where newbies and popcorn poppers are lacing, discretion is the better part of valor. When I've been sure that the person's skills were shakey, I've told them to lace way ahead of the start cues and run the film down in a single bump. I'd rather have the film break in the leader than on-screen. As you say, pros have no need to do this.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-31-2001, 04:12 PM:
Hi, Jerry.I have taught my newbies that if they have to start the motor, make sure it comes up to full speed before they shut it down. Your long leader is a good idea for the newbies.
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-31-2001, 04:30 PM:
Projectors should be inched over by hand to check threading not motor bumped
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-31-2001, 08:43 PM:
Gordon, you are absolutely correct. But hardly nobody listens to us anyway.
Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 03-31-2001, 09:25 PM:
"Projectors should be inched over by hand to check threading not motor bumped"And you "should" brush and floss after every meal.
As long as the motor gets up to speed and runs for a couple of seconds, I'll put the strain on the motor. Refrigeration motors cycle thousands of times, pump motors for wells cycle on and off regularly, even the fans in automobiles are now motors that cycle on and off.
Projectors now start once per show, rather than three or four times, like they used to have to on C.O. systems. A single up-to-speed bump is within spec. and will help a newbie detect problems that otherwise might not be seen (or heard) at the low speed of a manual crank over.
I don't hear Scott and others suggesting making up a print to avoid having to start the motor more than once per show. <evil grin> Your turn.
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-31-2001, 11:33 PM:
The reason to not "bump" the motor is not the motor itself, but the projector gearing.Refrigeration motors, pump motors for wells, fans in automobiles etc., are directly conneted to the whatever is being driven. Not so in projectors, with several gears (each with some amount of backlash) between the motor and the top sprocket.
Personally, I feel a newbie should be taught to thread correctly _without_ even turning the motor at all. THEN, he/she can turn the motor over by hand to double-verify. It should only take a few frames of spinning. IMHO.
Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 04-01-2001, 11:30 AM:
Well, I overspoke. Please delete. Thanks ."
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-01-2001, 02:04 PM:
I prefer to call it "Motoring off excessive leader." There is nothing wrong with that. If bumping the motor is to verify threading, That's a different story.
I call it "Hammering" the projector forward. That is something that simply should not be done, and that procedure is simply unacceptable..
Again, as I have stated previously, if the motor has to be started, make sure it comes up to full speed before it is shut down.
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 04-01-2001, 03:42 PM:
Paul has it very correct!! After replacing countless starter switch assemblies in both Leland (Simplex / Motiograph) and Robbins & Meyers motors (RCA) I can not figure out why so many people were told to just 'bump' the motor for a second! It plays hell on the start switch contacts in the motor, usually ending up welding them closed and then burning up the start windings! Not to mention the impact on the gear trains!!! I will note that most of these problems I encountered were in booths operated by older veteran union men or people trained by union men!
I asked several times where they learned this and was told that was how they were trained??? I have never seen this topic on any union tests...oh well!
'Can't teach an old dog a new trick' You just run out of bones! (Or starter switches in this case!)------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by Larry Racies (Member # 227) on 04-01-2001, 04:37 PM:
You are so right, John, sadly it is indeed the end of an era. I still remember, although it was over 20 years ago, Wolk returning my order for parts for a DeVry XD because I wasn't an "accredited dealer."
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-01-2001, 04:42 PM:
First off...as my name at the left shows...I'm Steve, not Scott...never have been a Scott and don't plan on changing my name to Scott!I am a strong advocate of running down the thread up section of the film rather than threading on the countdown. Basically, keep yer hands off of irreplacable stuff. Once one gets to the ID section of the leader prior to countdown, one shouldn't touch...if this policy is followed, the leader and the print itself doesn't get dirty and oily. This is true for either platter or changeover.
I do not advocate "bumping" the projector since as others have pointed out, it is not good for the motor nor the gear train. On an older Century JJ with heavy steel shutters, starting and stopping puts a bunch of strain on the GR-207 gears.
For those changeover theatres that have Dolby digital or SDDS, I suggest installing a run down button that won't trigger the digital processor to make a sound changeover.
Steve
------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-01-2001, 06:55 PM:
I have had to replace many a gear because of bumping
When I thread I thread on Pix start in the gate and go opposite directions from there locating the correct sync diamond across the correct reader for format.
I then inch the machine by hand down to the correct position for the changeover
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 04-02-2001, 10:57 AM:
If you gave the machine a rolling start, in other words spin the motor over and then turn on the motor, you can still bump it right? It takes out the backlash so the motor doesn't slam the gears. It doesn't deal with the start switch wear though. I have yet to see someone spin a motor that fast by hand.Josh
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-02-2001, 11:44 AM:
I have literally put a rope around the inching knob to hand start a motor that has a bad start switch. This will work in a pinch to keep the show on the screen. Kinda like starting a really large 2 cycle chain saw!
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-02-2001, 03:46 PM:
Mark - Been there, Done that...
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-02-2001, 04:21 PM:
One thing I have found through the years to prevent hammering on motor start-up is to inch the projector forward, so the gears are fully meshed when the motor is actually started. It helps. Most of the time it eliminates the "clunk" heard on motor start-up. I have seen shutter gears stripped in Brenkerts, Ballentyne Pro-35's, and Simplex E-7's when the projectionist re-started the projector motor before the machine came to a full stop.
When the motor is running down, inertia is pushing things along. If the motor is restarted before it comes to a complete stop, the backlash is at its maximum. Some real damage could occur, and will eventually toast a gear or two.
Posted by Paul Cunningham (Member # 501) on 04-02-2001, 09:09 PM:
I have just picked up on this thread and it seems a pity that so much stuff has been junked. Sure I agree that if it was not high turnover stock the cost of storing it could be excessive. But I think that anyone who junks out of date/hard to get/one of a kind equipment without first asking people who may have an interest in it whether they would like it should be shot. By people with an interest I mean, technicians, suppliers, hobbyists, collectors and the like. This could easily be done via film-tech, 35mm forum or any of the large suppliers. I see John Eickhof managed to get some stuff but I am sure much more would have been rescued if this had have been known about before the fact. Personally I would have loved to go wading through a dumpster full of projector and lamphouse parts, not that I could have because I'm in Australia.Just my two bobs worth.
Paul
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 04-03-2001, 01:15 AM:
I agree Paul! I sure wish I new about it earlier! I would have rented a BIG truck!------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by John Schulien (Member # 215) on 04-03-2001, 12:40 PM:
I also wish I had heard earlier. I live less then a mile away! I drove over, but there was nothing but an empty dumpster. :-(
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 04-03-2001, 02:25 PM:
There are several other issues going on when a company decides to dump old stock. Can the company afford to advertise they are going to dump stock? Do they have the time to wait for responses, and wait for people to come and get the stuff? If you want to get rid of something (even if you are giving it away) it's pretty annoying to have to wait while someone picks over it for hours. Then, they just take the things they want- leaving you with the junk you really wanted to get rid of. Suppose they have to get out of the building... and after letting everyone take what they want, no one wants those five monster Brenkert pedestals. Now they have to hurry up and dumpster them.Being a pack-rat myself, I can understand the feeling. But I was on the other side too, and sometimes you just don't have time to do things gracefully.