Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cell For Norelco AA

This is topic Cell For Norelco AA in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 03-04-2004, 11:17 AM:

Anyone know where I can order a stereo cell for a Norelco AA (also called "Big Bertha" I'm told). A previous tech broke one side of the existing cell and I need a replacement.

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 03-04-2004, 01:50 PM:

I just sent my last two to a guy in Australia. I make red readers for this model so had a few spare soundheads in stock. Of 10 only two had good cells as the wires tend to break off.

Check my site bacpinc.com if you want to update your soundhead which gets around the solar cell issue.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-04-2004, 06:33 PM:

Edward,
I'll put in a big plug for Sams reader for the DP-70. We have done quite a few of them. If yours has not been modernized then now is the time to do it!! The JAX light just does not cut it.

However, if you are not in a position to do the BACP upgrade(hopefully you are) then we have good used DP-70 Dolby Stereo cells at CLACO. I believe new cells are now over $300.00 list. We also have lots of light pipes, exciter sockets and such if you should need any of that.

Mark Gulbrandsen
CLACO Equipment And Service
1212 South State St.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
801-355-1250

VISA and Mastercard Gladly Accepted

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-04-2004, 08:00 PM:

I think I have one you can have Ed.
Got anything you want to trade?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-04-2004, 08:15 PM:

I believe Dolby still has the cells available new too.

Steve

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 03-04-2004, 08:58 PM:

What is the advantage of the BACP reader over the Kinoton basement reader? I'm presuming it's less expensive since it's an upgrade of the existing soundhead rather than a total replacement.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-04-2004, 10:14 PM:

Steve,

Both are generally displayed at Showest for all to gawk over. The Kinoton unit is very nice! Pretty to look at, precision made, and well functioning, unfortunately the Kinoton basement reader does not have the heavy duty build quality of the original Phillips sound reproducer (Ok, no one has THAT sort of build quality any more!). If it did it would cost twice the 5K that it does now. The most important feature of the original sound reproducer is that it has the no-contact sound drum while the new unit has a standard "Simplex" type drum. The original Phillips lateral guide roller asembly is also easily modified to be spring loaded for perfect film guidance through the scanning beam. I can't remember of the new unit is spring loaded or not but traditionally Kinotons are not and as the roller wears the insode width grows allowing the film to weave.

The BACP scanner is also the most easily serviced of all scanners out there although I've never experienced a failure of one yet. It has a plug in electronics module that has both channels of preamplification as well as a minaturized switching power supply for LED and preamp power on it. There is also a huge price difference between the two. Savings of as much as 1K with purchasing a seperate BACP penthouse/analog reader combo over the SRD Kinoton, comparisons at list pricing.

Both certainly have their place out there and to be honest I can't really fault either reproducer very much except for the lack of non-contact drum and light build quality of the new unit, vs. the battleship weight of the old one.

Mark @ CLACO