Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: RCA (Brenkert) BX-100 worth

This is topic RCA (Brenkert) BX-100 worth in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Charles Dale Carter (Member # 2315) on 03-30-2004, 04:55 PM:

I have one of these units and need to know approximate value. Any rough guesses out there?

[ 03-31-2004, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: Charles Dale Carter ]

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 03-30-2004, 05:38 PM:

$0-$600 depending on mechanical condition.

You might want to try listing it on Ebay as well.

-Aaron

Posted by Charles Dale Carter (Member # 2315) on 03-30-2004, 06:16 PM:

The unit does work. It is of some age, probably 1950s or 60s vintage.

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 03-30-2004, 07:49 PM:

Thats a given. The last BX100 rolled of the line in 1952.

Josh

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-30-2004, 09:35 PM:

If it has a 4" lens mount its a pain in the butt and will not take short focal length lenses without expending even more pain and to addanother layer of pain to that it requires special Brenkert only 4" adaptors. Regular type 4" adaptprs will not work in a BX-100..... They make good door stops too, so don't expect to get enough out of it to retire on. Personally, If you have a basement rec room put a light and lampshade on top of it and stick it on the end table It should already have a light inside the gear compartment....most BX-100's did....it would then be worth far more as a curiosity piece.

Mark

Posted by Charles Dale Carter (Member # 2315) on 03-30-2004, 09:51 PM:

Thanks, Josh, for that piece of trivia.

I don't know about the lens size, but will find out. It just might make a great looking lamp, but I think there are other operators out there that could use it for parts, at least. Not being a projectionist or claiming to know anything about being one, outside of measuring the lens, is there a data plate or placard that states the lens size/specifications?

I'm just a go-between tyring to help my dad, a philanthropic small theater owner without internet skills, get rid of some excess equipment. So the dumbing down of any comments will not be taken offensively considering our less than novice status.

Posted by Mike Fitzgerald (Member # 1304) on 03-30-2004, 10:17 PM:

Charles What other equipment does your father have to get rid of.

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 03-30-2004, 10:22 PM:

I think a BX100 is a damn fine machine and if it works then it has value. As far as how much I wouldn't pay more than 200 bucks for one in clean condition just due to its age. Its a great machine for someones screening room but there are newer machines out there that have easier to find parts that can be had reasonably. If I had the money I would offer to buy it from you, maybe later.
Good luck.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-30-2004, 10:39 PM:

Charles,
I was serious about making it into a light! Seen it done before and its pretty nifty.

Sam,
It was a fine machine in its day, exactly the same as the gear train in the BX-80 except for the shutter drive gear set. The unfortunate thing about the 100 is that it used a corse tooth fibre shutter drive gear and that version is no longer available. The last batch that Wolk made would run about two weeks to the second...literally! You had to have an original Brenkert gear in that spot for them to run with any longevity. The other down side is the 4" barrel... as I mentioned above, and the usual problems using short focal length lenses. But there were also BX-100s that had 70.6mm barrels.

Mark

Posted by Charles Dale Carter (Member # 2315) on 03-30-2004, 11:34 PM:

Thanks to each of you for your inputs! I'm going to close this out before any shouting contests break out extolling the virtues or shortcomings of the old Brenkert. Each of your opinions has been helpful in allowing me to evaluate the value of this equipment. Maybe my potential buyer will not have read these! lol

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 03-31-2004, 08:07 AM:

You know you are right about the gear train issue, forgot about that. Still a good machine though.

Posted by Jim Billek (Member # 1492) on 04-02-2004, 06:47 PM:

Charles,

I can not seem to get an e-mail to you. If you still have the bx-100 please email me. Thanks, Jim

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-03-2004, 09:18 PM:

I beleive that the last BX 100's were built after the advent of cinemascope closer to about 1958 or 1959 when the century's were rebranded

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-03-2004, 11:22 PM:

Brenkert 200 was a Century projector; I had a client which had a 100% equipped RCA sound projection package from opening day of 1935 to 1998....the storeroom held the retired projectors / soundheads / sound racks of various RCA manufacture. In 1959 / 60 Charley Wolk negotiated the rights to manufacture parts for Brenkert / RCA soundheads.