Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Simplex XL

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Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 01-17-2005, 12:20 PM:

I think I was reading something in the tips section about changeovers and it was talking about a projector called the Simplex XL, and said that it was now currently manufactured by Ballantyne as the PRO 35. One of Winnipeg's now demolished palaces (The Capitol Theatre- there will be a picture page for it coming soon) had this projector, and as far as I understand, it had as really great presentation.

My questions are:
Is the Simplex XL really the Pro 35 now?
What kind of features did it offer?
Overall, what did you think of this (if you've worked with it)?

Thanks everyone!

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 01-17-2005, 01:18 PM:

quote: Andrew McCrea
Is the Simplex XL really the Pro 35 now?

Hell, NO. The Simplex XL is now known as the PR-1014 (aka Simplex 35), and is basically the same machine as the 'XL' that was introduced in 1949. The Ballantyne PRO-35 (introduced ca. 1970) is also still being made now as well, and is a totally different machine.

quote: Andrew McCrea
What kind of features did it offer?

There are several variations on the XL mechanism, mostly the addition of turrets or specialized gate/trap assemblies; the gear train is for all intents and purposes the same between all of them. The up-and-coming 'replacement' for the 1014 is the all new Apogee machine.

Click Here for the Simplex PR1014 Manual to see the features

Click Here for the PRO-35 manual so you can see the difference

quote: Andrew McCrea
Overall, what did you think of this (if you've worked with it)?

The Simplex XL/35/1014/1015/1050 are one of the best 35mm machines I have ever used.

The Ballantyne PRO-35 is a pile of junk, IMO.

As always, YMMV, and I am sure that others will have differing opinions to mine.

-Aaron

Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 01-17-2005, 01:24 PM:

Aaron beat me to the punch on the X-L history...

The X-L was the first head to feature a conical shutter, designed for light efficiency. It was also the first Simplex to feature a full-time oil-spray lubrication system, both a great idea (for long gear train life) and its Achilles' heel (a reputation for leaking oil).

I installed an X-L head in my home setup almost a year ago. It's a smooth-running machine I really like overall except that threading the film trap is somewhat awkward compared to the Simplex E-7 the X-L replaced. One other thing...originally, the machine leaked oil out the main drive gear seal like there was no tomorrow (in fact, I christened the machine the Simplex Valdez because of that); installation of a seal kit with an updated drive gear stopped the leaks cold and allowed more oil to be added to improve lubrication (thanks, Mark G. for the suggestion! [thumbsup]

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 01-17-2005, 01:51 PM:

quote: Aaron Sisemore
The Ballantyne PRO-35 is a pile of junk, IMO

..lol - more like a POS!

Yet, if you thread a PRO-35 correctly,they can be alright, but that dowser assembly for the 35 being held up with that selinoid contraption, plus that coupling device for the intermittent, sucks the big one.

-Monte

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-17-2005, 06:48 PM:

Actually I don't like either that well but if I had to choose the Ballantyne would win if it had all the updates and upgrades done to it. At that point its really a very good projector capable if extremnely steady pictures.

Mark

Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 01-17-2005, 08:12 PM:

Thanks for all the tips. I downloaded the PRO 35 manual this morning before making that post, as well as the Simplex XL the other day, but could not find similarities:

"Simplex XL (a.k.a. Pro 35, a currently manufactured model)"

I printed the Simplex 1014 manual a few years ago for some reading material. Yes, I am weird.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-17-2005, 08:26 PM:

properly operated and cared for the pro35 is a very good and reliable machine the only ones that have issues are one that have been abused by people who operate and modify them forgetting that in some vague possibility the orignal design engineer new something of what he was doing (this is true of most equipment)

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 01-17-2005, 08:51 PM:

quote: Andrew McCrea
I printed the Simplex 1014 manual a few years ago for some reading material. Yes, I am weird.

Holy smokes Andrew, I'd hate to think what you must think of me then! I REALLY enjoy snuggling up on the sofa under a blanket in front of the fireplace with a raging fire on a cold, rainy night and reading an equipment manual.

Always remember, knowledge is power. Ummmmm so is money, but that's another thread... [Razz]

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 01-17-2005, 10:44 PM:

Don't let his nerd/techie ways seduce you, Andrew. Stay far, far away from Phil. As Homer said to Bart, "You'll thank me on your wedding night."

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-17-2005, 10:58 PM:

Money = Power : Knowledge = Money :: Knowldege = Power.

Assuming that your goal in life is to be a technician of some sort, whether it's a projector technician or not, you'd be weird if you WEREN'T reading manuals!

Being able to read a manual, understand what it says and take action based on what you have read is a VERY important skill to have. It's not like reading an ordinary book. You have to be able to understand technical terms which, many times, leave little/no room for interpretation. This is often just the OPPOSITE of what you do when you read literature.

Asking questions is the second skill you should develop. It's important, not because you simply get answers to your questions. The REAL benefit to asking questions is that you learn how to take what knowledge you DO have, reformulate it into a question and communicate it to sombody else in a coherrent manner.

These are both skills that fewer and fewer people seem to be developing these days. By simply starting this thread and asking the question, you demonstrate that you have the potential to be far ahead of others in your peer group in terms of technical skills.

Keep it up and you have the potential to go far!

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 01-17-2005, 11:36 PM:

quote: Andrew McCrea
"Simplex XL (a.k.a. Pro 35, a currently manufactured model)"

No the XL is NOT the Pro 35.

Didn't we just cover this in post #2? [Smile]

-Aaron

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 01-17-2005, 11:51 PM:

Hey Andrew... pay NO attention to what Steve says... he's just bitter cuz I hogged the blanket when we were reading manuals together! [Razz]

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 01-18-2005, 12:52 AM:

quote: Phil Hill
on a cold, rainy night and reading an equipment manual.

...shoot, This is how I began to learn on all of this tekkie fix-it stuff when I began this crazy field 35yrs ago: cuddling up to a warm space heater in a cold drive-in booth reading and studying Motiograph and Ashcraft manuals between reel changeovers, when we would run the last few weeks in the autumn.

Then, when I finally moved into the "hardtop" world of the theatre palaces, once again, cuddling up to a warm corner's heater when the theatre's heating system would fail at times, reading and studying up on all of the Simplexes and Peerless Magnarcs that I would run - from Supers to XL's, Western Electric 206B's, Motiograph 7500's, SH-1000's..and what have you -- with a few Motiograph, Simnplex amplifier manuals on the side.

No one showed me jack....learned this stuff on my own by "studying" the manuals...

lotsa fun - Monte

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 01-18-2005, 02:06 AM:

I agree. Much is in the manuals, if only more people would read them. I like Phil's approach... next to the fire. Hee-hee, there was a time when I would've done that!

[Big Grin]

Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 01-18-2005, 11:20 AM:

Aaron, that was an exact quote from this document (4.1.1 Projector/Lamphouse)

BTW, I downloaded it for some *light* reading material... I usually read the lamphouse manuals over and over. [Razz]

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 01-18-2005, 11:07 PM:

Scott Norwood needs to fix that little teeny error in the RAMT FAQ... [Smile]

-Aaron

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 01-19-2005, 02:40 AM:

Just for the record: Phil doesn't have a fireplace. Don't believe what he says.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 01-19-2005, 05:01 PM:

Gosh Mike, where are you getting that I-30 stuff?

I guess I have a chimney with a spark arrestor just for kicks and giggles...

Gee... that sure looks like a fireplace to me... But WTF do I know?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-19-2005, 05:38 PM:

Aaron is right--I need to fix a bunch of little errors. And have needed to do so for, oh, about seven years now. It's 'on the list.'

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 01-19-2005, 05:58 PM:

Yeah, I agree Aaron and Scott. With all due respect to Scott, I too have noticed many errors in that document. In the meantime those errors are misleading people.

Andrew's confusion is a good example of why the document should be removed until corrected?

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 01-19-2005, 07:43 PM:

Yeah, but I want to know what the hell that yellowish-gold figure is to the left of the fireplace and in front of the bookshelf? Some weird-ass sexual potentcy statue with coconut shells over the breasts . . . or something . . .

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 01-19-2005, 08:05 PM:

Aaron, that's too funny! I debated with myself whether to "blur" that out or not... But then I thought to myself: "Eh, no one would really notice that"... I guess I was wrong, huh? Hahahhahahaha

It's an Asian "Love Goddess" or a Mexican piñata... not sure which...

Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 01-20-2005, 02:29 AM:

How old is that picture Phil? I never saw that statue at your house.. come to think of it, I couldn't even see the floor! [Razz]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-20-2005, 02:34 AM:

Notice how the picture of the "inside" isn't as clear as the shot of the outside? It's just another artist's rendering. [Razz]

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 01-20-2005, 03:31 PM:

Danny & Brad: My my my, you guys are a laugh a minute... a real riot!

quote: Dan Lyons
...couldn't even see the floor!

quote: Brad Miller
...just another artist's rendering.

Yes Danny, that pic was before remodeling and packing up stuff for moving. It is NOT an "artist's rendering" as our Grand-Poo-BAH suggested but the only pic I had that showed my fireplace.

However, below is a current pic showing part of the fireplace. JEEZE! You guys sure make something outta nothin'!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-20-2005, 09:27 PM:

Phil,
I think what everyone is getting at is that a nice mood shot with a roaring fire and you all snuggly under your blanky reading the Imax... oops excuse me.... Iwerks manual is whats needed. Otherwise we all might as well assume its just one of those fake fireplaces with alumnium foil twirling around and a red bulb to simulate the glow..... [Confused]

.

Mark

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 01-20-2005, 09:41 PM:

Mark, Phil would never use twirling aluminum foil for a fire effect. Shredded strips of clear plastic sheet with some amber and flame-colored lamps and a blower, a la Disneyland, works quite well. [Smile]

"Simplex Valdez"... I love it! [Big Grin]

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 01-21-2005, 01:10 AM:

Looks like Phil's house is sinking... COOTTanic, maybe? [Big Grin]

Edit: And BTW, the ONLY decent XL's are the old National Theatre Supply/Simplex made models. The new ones from Ballanswine are crap!! Makes me mad that they cheapened an great head. [Big Grin]

Or for real [bs]

, anybody want a GPL or Singer version? [Razz]

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 01-21-2005, 01:12 PM:

XL's are by far the best I have ever worked with. I know the Century guys might argue with me, but the Simplex XL beats the Century's hands down in my opinion.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 01-21-2005, 02:27 PM:

quote: Joshua Waaland
XL's are by far the best I have ever worked with...

(LOL cuz, in your profile picture, you're standing by one mounted in front of a Peerless Magnarc..)

I'll show you my XL's that were mine for 12 yrs before this theatre was closed down.

It was said that Century's were called "the Projectionist's Projector" being so well built, easy to maintain, excellent film handling, et.al. .. -Monte

Posted by Andy Bergstrom (Member # 360) on 01-21-2005, 02:44 PM:

I believe some projectors are better suited to certain booth situations (degree of operator proficenty). I know all projectionists should be well trained and versed, but in reality we often end up with ushers, managers, ect up operating and maintaining booth equipment. We notice in our company that Century and Simplex XL projectors seem to stand up to the heavy handed abuse that sometimes gets inflicted on them by less experienced operators.