Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Simplex SH72 sound head questions

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Posted by Barry Hans (Member # 477) on 01-24-2003, 08:04 PM:

I saw a Simplex SH 72 sound head today. I've never seen one before and would like to find a manual or information on it. How long was this sound head in production? The plate said made by Graflex for...

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-24-2003, 09:33 PM:

If this is what I think it is I have always called it the No Star Simplex Sound Head. It is actually the earliest version of the Simplex 5 Star.......It is a total disaster!
Mark @ CLACO
www.clacoequipment.com

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 01-24-2003, 10:20 PM:

Made by Graflex? You mean the same Graflex (General Precision Labs) that made the horrid Graflex (or Crapflex as I call them) 16mm projectors?

Around 1960, wasn't Simplex then owned by General Precision Labs?

Posted by Barry Hans (Member # 477) on 01-24-2003, 10:44 PM:

It was odd. Basic thread pattern was the same as the 5 star but the lateral guide roller sat above the slit lens and move straight forward onto the sound drum. There is a preamp located under the exciter and a pot mounted in the casting connected to the round solar call. The solar cell is in a round housing and the casting where the cell mounted is quit different than the normal 5 star head. There is also a pot off of the preamp located on the exciter door. I don't know if Graflex was the same graflex of 16mm fame. Is there a manual out there anywhere for this head??

Posted by Dick Prather (Member # 1136) on 01-24-2003, 11:42 PM:

The soundhead came out sometime in the 1960's. Graflex owned Simplex at that time as well as Singer sewing machine. It was indeed a piece of junk.

There is still a set running in an independent house in Portland where I ran them 30 years ago. They still run fine with Dolby cells now and carefull operators. You had to make sure you didn't let go of the spring loaded guide roller assembly when you threaded up. If you did you didn't know where the alignment might end up. These came with a solid state pick up and built in solid state pre-amp but was never used at that theatre.

[ 01-25-2003, 04:28 PM: Message edited by: Dick Prather ]

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 01-25-2003, 02:46 AM:

I have never seen one of those. Can someone post a picture? Surely, it could not be any worse that the Eprad that was bolted on the Sword....

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-25-2003, 12:04 PM:

We have a pair floating in the junk room at work. I'll see if I can find one and get a pix on Monday. Thay have no window in the door. Yes, they were made by Graflex...same as the 16mm projectors. I believe that General Precision owned Graflex back then too. The name General Precision fit them well because they were only Generally precision once in a while made and never consistantly precision!
Mark