This is topic Attn. Mr. Pytlak:Are platters death to film? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003750
Posted by Matthew Bailey (Member # 601) on 07-22-2002, 01:23 PM:
This is a topic that has been on my mind since the the time I registered to be a member of this forum. I recently read an article
in a magazine issue of The New Yorker on how a theatre's projection equipment works intitled THE PROJECTOR & it mentioned Dr. Jan Horak
of Eastman Kodak in the Rochester area told the author of the article
that platters are death to film.
Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 07-22-2002, 01:35 PM:
Unless he has some new data that supports his rather broad statement, we've pretty much beaten this horse to death, haven't we? It's not the equipment but the competence or incompence of the user, etc. Do you have a URL to the article or can you copy it here so we can see it in context?
Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 07-22-2002, 01:37 PM:
Matthew: Have you missed the ongoing Brad Miller vs. Richard Haines "debate to the death" on this topic?
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-22-2002, 01:38 PM:
Jan-Christopher Horak was curator of motion-picture collections at the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House (An independent museum on the site of George Eastman's home). He is the founding vice president of AMIA. He is currently curator of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum and an adjunct professor at UCLA. He does/did NOT work for Eastman Kodak Company.
http://www.eastman.org/
http://www.eastman.org/10_colmp/10_index.html
http://www.hollywoodmuseum.com/index.html
http://www.upress.umn.edu/journals/ I believe you read something out of context. Most film archivists prefer that rare prints be run reel-to-reel rather than off a platter. The biggest issue is the need to remove the leaders for platter projection, which may lead to a loss of continuity. There is also a common "perception" that projectionists who have mastered changeover projection are somehow more skilled.
As discussed numerous times on Film-Tech, when operated by a skilled and caring projectionist, the risk of film damage is very low for both platters and reel-to-reel projection.
------------------
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
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-22-2002, 03:18 PM:
Matthew, in the future if you want an answer specifically from John Pytlak, please just email him directly. That's what email is for.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-22-2002, 07:44 PM:
ORC platters are death to film. They run nicely for a time, but when you turn your back they begin to be evil. Matthew, can you find out for me if ORC platters are haunted?
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 07-22-2002, 07:54 PM:
Idiots are "death to film" not equipment------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-22-2002, 10:26 PM:
What about equipment designed by idiots? 
Steve
------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"
Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 07-22-2002, 10:35 PM:
I once saw an ORC platter melt donw and then rise up again to form the Screen Gems logo.
No kidding.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-22-2002, 10:43 PM:
You've seen that happen too??? 
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 07-22-2002, 11:28 PM:
"What about equipment designed by idiots?"
I guess "idiots" is the operative word------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 07-23-2002, 08:19 AM:
Good God the darn thing should of just melted down into the Screen Gems logo and stayed there. It would have been better off, trust me. I will asume it was a ORC Super Platter as opposed to the ORC 302 Belgium made platters that UA had so many of back in the early 80's
Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 07-23-2002, 09:16 AM:
ORC's are horrible, horrible platters. I've got three of them left and within a month they will be changed to Christie platters. I'm going to be so happy when that happens.
I'm keeping the platter decks, though. I will set them down on the legs of the Christies and use them to store prints.
Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 07-23-2002, 09:48 AM:
I had three ORC platters under my tender care. Now down to one, two of 'em having been replaced with Strong. The remaining one runs fine and has never given any trouble. The other two were another story! When they were running properly they were ok, but they spent a lot of time not running properly, and therefore required a lot of time to keep them running properly.I still have nightmares about adjusting those servo pots.
Posted by Jean-Michel Grin (Member # 1360) on 07-23-2002, 05:14 PM:
I've have experienced problems with Strong platters: The alpha platters when the pay-out don't run at sufficient speed and the brain Warp, DMC platters when the the pay-out head fail in malfunction and run the platter at top speed and eject the film !
And with old CNR Platters when the rubber pulley between the motor and the platter when this pulley loose the rubber material, Noising like tires !For en a advice for buy platters:
ACME platters brain-warp better !
------------------
Jean-Michel Grin - Europlex Cinemas (Switzerland)
Posted by Peter Dougherty (Member # 686) on 07-23-2002, 05:42 PM:
I really liked my ORC platter that I had in one theatre I worked at (and later, after it closed, I ran it at another house). I think it was the Model 302 (a 35/70 platter the one with the brown column). It wasn't that hideous orange abomination-on-toast, nor the newer style with the microswitches on the take-up side. I think that was the only good platter that ORC ever foisted upon the industry.Even that said, it was incredibly slow to make up on, and the MU table was not all that well designed either.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-24-2002, 01:43 AM:
ORC did not employ any good designers. If they had, they'd still be around. Too bad they had absolutely no idea how to design anything well.
Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 07-24-2002, 01:50 AM:
I'll chime in again (less than 24hours later)......One of those ORC platters died this afternoon.
What can I say? We just don't have so many problems with the Christies.
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-24-2002, 02:03 AM:
How did it die? Was it because you shot it?