Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Just when you think you've seen it all...

This is topic Just when you think you've seen it all... in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Peter Dougherty (Member # 686) on 07-23-2002, 02:07 PM:

I saw this posted on rec.arts.mocies.tech this morning. Someone from Seattle was selling a used 4500W ORC xenon bulb!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1367788236

Fortunately for everyone, the lamp didn't sell.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-23-2002, 02:12 PM:

From his description, he has no idea of the dangers involved in handling a xenon lamp.

Suspect ill-gotten goods.

Hopefully, no one will get blinded or maimed when it explodes.

------------------
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 Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 07-23-2002, 02:47 PM:

...not to mention, how many people have lamp collections? Also, since it supposedly has a useage log wouldn't you think he'd say how many hours it's got. Well, perhaps not if he's selling it as a decoration for ones mantle!

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-23-2002, 03:03 PM:

The auction was closed early, ostensibly because the seller made a mistake in listing the item.

I'm seriously considering whether or not I (or somebody else) should contact ebay and tell them that this guy is selling dangerous goods.

Still-pressurized xenon lamps ARE officially classified as dangerous goods by UPS and other shipping companies, aren't they?

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 07-23-2002, 03:13 PM:

quote:
...not to mention, how many people have lamp collections?

Actually, a guy from the phone company that was doing some work at a theater I used to work at has a lamp collection and wanted to know where he could get a xenon. When I explained to him the dangers, he said don't worry about.

Posted by Peter Dougherty (Member # 686) on 07-23-2002, 03:19 PM:

quote:
The auction was closed early, ostensibly because the seller made a mistake in listing the item.
I'm seriously considering whether or not I (or somebody else) should contact ebay and tell them that this guy is selling dangerous goods.

It actually ran for 5 days with no bidders. Thankfully.

I sent him an e-mail (through e-bay) before posting this item here, and I suggested he do a search on xenon bulb explosions and safety precautions. I'm willing to bet I wasn't the only one either.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 07-23-2002, 03:25 PM:

If the seller would have said that it was used to project SW-2, he would have had a bidding war by the light saber toting crowd. Poor planning, I must say.

------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/

Posted by Peter Dougherty (Member # 686) on 07-24-2002, 12:35 AM:

Just a follow-up. I received an e-mail from the seller this evening regarding the warnings and safety suggestions I sent earlier in the day. He said that he was acting on behalf someone else, and this other bloke had 30 of the things he wanted to sell!

He pulled the new auctions down and said he'd pass the "many" similar messages onto the owner of the items. I *really* hope nobody gets hurt with these things.

------------------
Cheers,
Peter, W2IRT

No trees were harmed in creating this message, however several thousand electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 07-24-2002, 01:17 AM:

But what if a theatre owner wanted to buy it? As for the shipping concerns, I know some people have driven to go get stuff they bought on eBay.

Still...a used Xenon bulb? I'm skeptical of them when they're brand new from the factory...even if this one was new, who knows where it's been or how it's been stored.

Case in point: I recently rejected one of the spare lamps from the company I do maintenance for because of how the lamp was stored.

BTW...I just LOVE the title of this thread!

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 07-24-2002, 04:50 AM:

This moron has got to be kidding!
Damn, he's given Seattle/Tacoma projectionists a bad name and I'm pissed.
Please tell him I've got a bridge in Tacoma I'd be more than glad to sell him.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 07-24-2002, 05:49 AM:

I seriously doubt that the seller is a projectionist, since he clearly doesn't understand the dangers involved with xenon bulbs. As others have said, it's a good thing that no one has been hurt as a result of the seller's ignorance.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 07-24-2002, 06:00 AM:

I took a look at the other items he has for sale . Everything from tin toys to emroidered handkerchiefs to Microsoft Mouse stainless steel key rings!

This guy obviously sell anything and everything people ask him to.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 07-24-2002, 01:13 PM:

Hey, it says I can use it with my 16mm projector! I'm gettin' one!

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 07-24-2002, 01:33 PM:

Wouldn't the manufacturer have a record of who they sold this particular bulb to? That is the purpose of the serial number, to keep track of who purchased what bulbs, and for warranty purposes. I would think that perhaps someone should track this sucker down to its rightful owner and ask them if they are the ones trying to sell it, or if they are missing some used bulbs?

Dave

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 07-24-2002, 02:41 PM:

"He said that he was acting on behalf someone else, and this other bloke had 30 of the things he wanted to sell!"

Surely not, this is, after all, a *"very unique"* lamp!

I have to say that xenon lamps make me nervous. I've run xenon projectors from time to time, but never 4.5k ones. What screen size would you use this for? Typical lamps I see are between 1600W and 2.5kW. The State, Grays, when it was open had 2.5k in two projectors, and carbons in the third. This was a very large screen, and the picture was not that bright, maybe 4.5k would have been about right for a screen this size.

I know there's somebody here from Bradford, wasn't the original IMAX installation there 4k, before it went 3D? That screen was a heck of a lot bigger than most cinemas.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-24-2002, 03:32 PM:

A "rule of thumb" is that for a matte white (gain = 1) screen, you need about 5 watts of power for each square foot of screen area.

Many assumptions in this "rule of thumb" (e.g., 2-blade shutter of about 50% efficiency, modern coated lens design, proper optical alignment, etc.).

Posted by Peter Dougherty (Member # 686) on 07-24-2002, 03:47 PM:

quote:
I've run xenon projectors from time to time, but never 4.5k ones. What screen size would you use this for?

Usually with screens over 40' or more (typically the larger houses in multiplexes). We used 4K Ushio lamps on a 33' screen at one single I worked at 10 years ago, but the lamphouse and optics were so abominable (Xebex Super-Sol) that we STILL couldn't get more than 12.5fL on a C/S picture, and then only in the centre. Closer to 3 around the left edge and 5 on the right!

I hope that thing is rotting in a landfill somewhere today!

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 07-25-2002, 02:36 AM:

Stephen

You are right the original 2D Imax installation here in Bradford did use 4kW Osram on a screen 48' x 64'. We later used ORC 4500 W until we closed for rebuilding in 1997.

Since we eopened we use Osram 7kW lamps in each of the IMAX SR projectors.

Posted by Mathew Molloy (Member # 666) on 07-25-2002, 03:47 AM:

Hey, the Egyptian in Seattle had two of these bad boys stolen from the booth during our renovation a couple years ago...I was looking on ebay for some time afterwards but never saw them come up...I'm wondering if these are the same?