) Seems like the equipment market here is much less diverse and significantly more expensive than the US 
Thanks in advance.
David
As for price, a V8 with auto twin turret, curved gate & trap, Optical soundhead etc reconditioned price U.S.$4200.00
Is this one of the ex- Apollo machines or from another local source?
Thanks for the feedback. The machine is a dual guage 35/70 model with a 4kW Zenith lamphouse. I'm not yet sure if it's practical for me at this stage, but I'm taking a look!
The source is anything but local, but if it turns out to be a good buy then I'll hire a van to collect the thing. Dick - what are these ex-Apollo machines you mention?! Do you know of any good used equipment sources here in the north? (I hear rumours of someone in the Stockport area but don't yet know where ) Seems like the equipment market here is much less diverse and significantly more expensive than the US
David
David
To get new replacements from SA would be a costly issue and finding used parts are getting harder to find.
David
If no one has mentioned it, Vic 5's love throwing gear boxes. Some vic 5's gear boxes will last 20 years, others 10,000 hours.
Mark Hathaway
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Mark Hathaway
The one in our workshop was most definitely complete, I know this because I loaded it onto the truck with my own hands!
I didn't think Apollo had gotten rid of any Vic 8s, I know they shifted a load of Vic 4 from closed sites, but AFAIK the 8s are still very much in use.
There was an announcement from Cinemecannica a while back, to the effect that FTT WCS were not officially appointed agents for Cinemecannica, but could quite legitimately sell Cinemecannica products sourced from an approved agent, who I assume is FTT.
Odeon Cinema still have loads of V8's and the RK60 in use all now 35mm only (except Leicester Square)most of the V4's, if not all have now been removed as spares for these are no longer supplied.
Vic 8 , highly recomended. Easy to repair too.
Darren
I have already posted this info but will cover it again. There are three spring loaded couplings in the projector that should be checked out prior to install. If you do you will have a smooth running machine that will certainly see you out! The couplings are two part with one fitting into the other. The four springs allow the two parts to self center and provide shock absorbtion. If these springs are very old or even broken you will suffer irregular picture ghosting and or noisy running. Try gripping the motor handle and rocking it back and forth. If it feels 'springy' then the motor coupling is probably fine. If you feel and hear a definate clunking then the motor coupling springs need changing. Not a very difficult job but not one for the faint hearted. The same applies for the shutter couplings. One final point that applies to all projectors if at all possible run it off an inverter. Doing so gives a very smooth run up and stop of the projector and will extend it life considerably. Vic 5 shutter gearboxes come to mind in particular.
Hope this is of help and interest.
There is only one real 70mm Projector to rebuild.
That is the the Norelco/Philips DP70 !
I think most would agree that the DP70 is possibly one of the best projectors ever made. However it's design precluded it from continued use in automated multiscreen single manned houses!
The Vic 8 however is still manufactured and is versatile and reliable. Its as happy in a fully automated show as it is in a change over show. The number of options that have been available over time prove this. I have worked in two shows with reversable Vic 8's, The shows ran on 10.000' spools and changed over on automation. The first spool then ran backwards thru the projector at 3x speed, ready for the next show. Len's turrets and auto change plates etc etc all automated.
Now I'm NOT saying I liked the idea as such but it was an option offered in responce to a need at the time.
Now I have to admit all those relays, contactors etc were very noisy but it worked. The design was flexable enough to enable options like this to be offered. Can you imagin trying anything like that on a DP70. Of course not!! It was never intended for such use so was never deigned with it in mind.
The Vic 8 was made to satisfy a demand and has fulfilled the demand admirably.
So if I was offered one of each I would still take the Vic 8 everytime.
As for the Westrex 5000...... words fail me and thats a neat trick!
Regards.
I could not agree with you Gordon more on that!.
At least the 5000's do not suffer from that dam top shutter ghosting as you see on some "old V8's" and picture steadiness they out proform those "Shakemeccancia" any day
- the guy just doesn't seem bothered about selling (having arranged a date and time to see the machine he suddenly couldn't make it). I've since had a good look at a Vic 8 over in Stockport - this one is out of my price range (pity); I'm now looking at other alternatives (unless the original Vic 8 sudenly becomes a realist option again).Thanks for all the info - there have been plenty of useful pointers to other possibilites!
David
). One is a Westrex 7K. Something about this machine makes me a bit nervous - probably partly because it just looks like a sheet metal box and probably partly because the manufacturer is long since deceased. I should add that the seller is a great bloke and is prepared to stand behind the machine with a warranty. Questions then: how reliable are Westrex 7000s in the long term? (this won't be getting heavy usage mind)
are they a good bet from a film handling perspective? (don't want to be chewing prints)
apparently the gate design can cause focus problems - is this a big issue?
how difficult are these things to move? (I need to relocate this once a year for the use of a film convention - I appreciate that any full sized machine will be a pain, but in relative terms?)
There's also the possibly of a Vic 8 again - but this is one of the very early RK60 (?) ones. What are the major differences between these and the later (circa 1970) models (besides fire traps and enclosed film magazines)? Will this machine run 6000'+ spools (I think the magazines are 5000')? I'm guessing this model of Vic 8 is harder to move than the Westrex, but again, any issues from a film handling perspective? How noisy are the Vic 8s/RK60s? (I know the Westrex 7000s are pretty quiet).
...and finally, a Vic 4 is a possibility - but I have a feeling I read some very negative things about these a while back. Opinions, anyone? Are any of the parts still avaiable? Are any of the spares common to the Vic 5?
Thanks in advance guys!
David
Westrex 7000. If looks after will run for years and years. I service half a dozen of these. One very early model, which has been meticulously looked after, and looks like it just came out of the crate. It's in daily use, has been since it's installation in the '70's, the owner wouldn't have anything else! The focus problem is something of an urban myth. That's not to say it doesn't exist, it's just blown out of all proportion. There is a big difference between a 7000 with the original Sankor lenses and magnacom, and a 7000 with Isco or Schneider lenses. Just as there's a big difference between a 7000 with a converted AEI lamphouse on the back, and a 7000 with a Orcon or Super LumeX lamphouse on the back. Spares availability is pretty good, sprockets and intermittent parts were all shared with the Westar 2001, so there's no problem getting those, the belts are easily obtainable, and the gate spring bands don't seem to be a problem at the moment. I'm guessing that sound head and shutter bits might be a hassle new, but there's always a few graveyard machines on the go! You can get round the red light problem easily with a laser, there isn't a reverse scan kit available for the 7000 AFAIK, the ACL works so well on these there really isn't any point to going reverse scan anyway, especially at the price. They aren't especially easy to move, but on the plus side, they are built modular, and all the electrics are on multi-pin plugs. I've seen one on castors that's only used a couple of times a year, and stored in a cupboard most of the time!
Sorry I don't know anything about the RK60, is this the version imported by Kershaw many moons ago? I've got some sales literature on those someplace. I wouldn't fancy humphing a Vic 8 around, even once a year!
There are quite a few Vic 4 still running, they just seem to go on and on, which is just as well, as I understand that spares availability is a real problem on those. On the other hand they are pretty small and light. They seem to love throwing oil all over the place!
yes the RK60 is the Vic 8 as imported by Kershaw. In every respect its a Vic 8 and spares are not a problem. Definatly not a machine to be considered portable in any way!!
As for the Vic 4, nice little projector and with a bit of attention the oil leaks can be stopped....... almost. As you say spares are a problem for them. Gate, pads, sprokets are OK as far as I am aware but anything else, especially motors are difficult if not impossible.
Regards, Ken.
As far as weight is concerned, I'm ambitious / stupid enough to consider lugging even a monster around if it's a great improvement on the other equipment on offer. The RK60 comes in around the same price as the Westrex, with lamphouse etc. Apparently the main portability issue with the RK60 is the foot - which certainly looks like a beast! Since for 11 3/4 months of the year this baby will be static (I'll probably be eating those words at a later date, but...) - so given the application and price equivalence, does one look better than the other? Are the Vic 8's particularly noisy?
The Vic 4 is very cheapski, but I'm concerned that it might die and be irreparable. All things being equal I think the ideal machine would probably be a Vic 5...but can I get one? No. The Vic 8 does look lovely...but it's also such a beast! Oh choices, choices!
Cheers
David
Thanks for the info guys - that answers my noise question 
David
The Vic 4, 5 & 8 are all available with 6000' spool arms and spool boxes. The Minema Cinema, now closed, had a pair of Vic 4's with 6000' spool boxes.
As for the Vic 8 being noisy, all projectors can be, so in that respect its no worse than any other. The four I have, two RK60 & two Vic 8 proper, are very quiet and steady. One is hard to hear over the lamp house fan. As with everything in life with some care and attention you will have a great machine.
Cheers
David
Can anyone imagine saying the same thing about today's digital projectors thirty years from now?
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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
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