This is topic General Sound/Showman II in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Armin Pohl (Member # 789) on 04-17-2001, 06:15 AM:
I have a fairly old automation setup. The company that manufactured the automation box was General Sound. I believe they are out of business. I found a supplier for the mini lamps but I am need of the little coloured push buttons marked, RESET, STEP, TIMER, START, STOP, FAULT, SAFETY, ISOLATE. Can anyone help ???
Armin
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-17-2001, 08:46 AM:
The pushbutton caps are available from ElectroSonic Inc on Gordon Baker Road Willowdale Ontario
They are blank and you have to get them engraved.
FYI The showman 2 is far from obsolete
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 07-14-2004, 08:58 PM:
It has been 1184 days since the last post.
Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 07-14-2004, 08:58 PM:
Are there any of the old Showman II automations floating around anywhere out there? There must be some if FAMOUS PLAYERS replaced most of them with CineQ.
Is Cinemation still being made?
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 07-14-2004, 11:02 PM:
Mr Bentley passed away this year and I beleive that there is a UK company that is continueing support for the current cinemation
which is an electronic version
I beleive the manufacturer of CineQ is out of business now or so the rumour goes
Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 06-15-2005, 04:06 PM:
Does anyone have pictures of the Showman II automation? Can anyone list features of it?
Are there an floating around anywhere that are available for purchase?
Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 06-15-2005, 08:15 PM:
I can come up with a picture if nobody else has one. It's just a gray box, about 2 feet square and 8 inches deep, with the pegboard in the middle and a few switches and indicators.
It's similar in features to other pegboard units. The cue button or sensor tape advances the pegboard array down one step, and you put diode pegs in the grid to activate functions - cues are rows and functions are columns. There's an electromechanical timer that allows for timed events like opening the dowser X seconds after the motor starts.
The features are basically that it's simple, easily "programmed". and it uses good old relays and wires that anyone with a multimeter can troubleshoot - not a mystery board stuffed with mystery ICs.
There are limitations too but it's pretty reliable and there are quite a few still running out there.
The Showman is a descendant/copy of the Cinemation (I think) and was designed and built in Canada using standard N.A. parts and has (to me) easier setup and servicing compared to the UK one.
Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-16-2005, 02:59 PM:
Oh, yes, they're definitely easier to get around inside than a Mk-IV.
Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 06-16-2005, 09:07 PM:
Tim;
the Entertainment Engineering automations are a direct descendant of the Showman 2.
Louis
Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-16-2005, 09:53 PM:
Oh, yes, I remember that. And it's certainly the Cadillac. The E-E's are more reliable than the others, well-built, and roomier... with A/C and power steering optional! ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Posted by Mike Babb (Member # 1379) on 06-16-2005, 10:41 PM:
I think 8 Showman 2 got bulldozed in my old theatre after it closed, the company that owned it didn't want to re-use them. We had almost no problems in 17 years of operating them.
Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 06-17-2005, 01:19 PM:
Are the "E-E"s still built? Any contact information for this company?
Anyone know if there's old Showman IIs available for purchase out there?
Posted by Andy Bergstrom (Member # 360) on 06-17-2005, 01:33 PM:
Didn't Century also make an automation called "Showman"? I seem to recall operating them. They didn't have the pegboard/diode set-up. They were an all contained monitor/amplifier/failsafe kinda thing.
Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 06-21-2005, 03:42 PM:
1. Yes, Century made a "Showman" around 1976. I made many a service call on them until we found the factory design errors. Then all was well.
2. Entertainment Engineering is the parent of Hadden Theatre Supply; 10201 Bunsen Way, Louisville, Ky 40299. tel 502--499-0050 (Yes these automations are still made but are quite pricey. Certain customers love them.)
Louis