This is topic Balco Platters ? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 10-04-2001, 12:48 PM:
Has anyone ever heard of a Balco Platter? I recieved a call from a fellow drive-in owner last night and he was interested in selling me his booth package - which included Century Projectors and a Balco Platter. Nothing appears in the manuals section. How do these compare with either an AW-3, or a Strong?------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-04-2001, 01:29 PM:
Check with Steven Krams at International Cinema Equipment Co.:
http://www.iceco.com/film_handling.htm NTE also has Balco:
http://www.nteequip.com/inventory3.htm
AFAIK, it's the design the current Strong A-3 Platter is based on.
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 10-04-2001, 01:43 PM:
I think the BALCO is the current Strong A-3 platter.
Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 10-04-2001, 07:20 PM:
Paul is correct, the BAL[lantyne]CO platter is the same as the Potts platter of the same era. Most if not all Potts, early Xetron, and some late Strong parts whould interchange nicely... 
Aaron
Posted by Dave Bird (Member # 490) on 10-04-2001, 08:47 PM:
MORE projectors Barry? You're gonna be a 12-plex before long 
!
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-04-2001, 10:52 PM:
Forgive the ignorance, but what's the Strong A-3? Is that the same as the Strong AP?
Posted by Steven Gorsky (Member # 603) on 10-04-2001, 11:07 PM:
The A-3 is the three deck Alpha. It is similar to the AP, but without the auto-programming features.Steven Gorsky
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-04-2001, 11:12 PM:
Is that the one where you have to flip a switch to either Takeup, Payout, or Off, depending on what you're using each deck for? That's the way it is with the Teco platters I currently use, and I HATE them! (I'm used to the AP's.)
Posted by Steven Gorsky (Member # 603) on 10-04-2001, 11:36 PM:
No, there are no switches, except for setting which deck for make-up. It's a lot like the AP, but the center-feed and the variac are different. Take a look at the manual in the manual section (where else ) for more details.Steven Gorsky
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 10-05-2001, 01:07 AM:
Balco platter is the Potts/Strong platter with a Ballantyne nameplate on it. Balco was used as the name in the mid 80's before Ballantyne switched to just using the Strong name on the platter. Typical Balco platters of that era had a variac operated by a "brake cable" (there is a conversion kit to upgrade it to the current rod operated style) and the "control plates" (centerfeeds) were screwed down (there is a "drop-in" conversion kit). Balco platters of this age will likely have WHITE film rollers all over it. The serial number of the platter is located on the back of the "tree" down by the variac on earlier models.
They are good platters (better if they have the updates).
Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 10-05-2001, 12:33 PM:
I thought seriously about the Century Projectors, but I'm running out of room for anything else. He was selling me a "package deal" that included the entire drive-in, less the property. All of his buildings were portable trailer-like things including the concessions, projection & restrooms. I called him several months ago regarding buying and relocating the screen tower. It's a bolt-together steel framed tower that's less than 3 years old.We go before the zoning appeals board on the 19th of this month to get the property for the drive-in rezoned. Wish us luck, I think we're gonna need all the luck we can get.
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-06-2001, 01:07 PM:
OK, I have seen those platters with the fixed brains and white rollers at a theatre we closed last year.I did look at the manuals section. Don't you have to select which platter is takeup and which is payout? If not, than what do you mean it's a lot like the AP without the AP features?
Posted by Steven Gorsky (Member # 603) on 10-06-2001, 05:07 PM:
Oops, I just realized the platters I've used were DMCs and APs not Alphas. Anyway what I said about the Alphas was according to Strong's website:
"The Alpha Platter is the economical version of the most
reliable Platter System on the market. It features the same
components and options of the AP Platter without the Auto-Programming
features. Available in three- and five-deck 35mm and three-deck
35/70mm versions; uses the "Alpha" style Make-Up Table."I also looked at the Alpha Operation manual again, I had it downloaded - and that proably why I was confused - I usually only download manuals for stuff I use. Anyway it says nothing about setting switches for payout and take-up, maybe this applies only to more recent Alphas?
Steven Gorsky
currently unemployed
looking to go back
into the computer industry
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-07-2001, 12:39 AM:
You're right. I don't know why I thought I read something about switches.The threading instructions look like the same procedure I used for the AP platters. And if there are no switches to set each deck to payout or takeup, then how is this system different from the AP? What do you mean by "without the AP features?" AP means Auto Programming, right? I thought that meant the platter system's ability to know which deck is currently being used for payout and which is takeup without having to set switches. (I know the AP has the takeup roller that moves to tell that platter to takeup. Does the Alpha?
I am pretty sure the older system I saw with the white rollers had the Takeup/Off/Payout switches. Do I remember correctly?
Posted by Greg Pauley (Member # 503) on 10-07-2001, 12:22 PM:
Ken, you are correct!
The Balco platters have the takeup/payout toggle switch mounted on the motor. We still are running 3 Balco platters we purchase new in 1980. Not a bad platter, some problems with the payout switches and timing problems from time to time. ourshowtimes.com