Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cinerama Sound Reproducer

This is topic Cinerama Sound Reproducer in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Cary Loeser (Member # 2923) on 09-25-2006, 12:41 AM:

Is anyone familiar with the old sound reproducers that were made by Westrex and used for the Cinerama process? I have the following questions:

1) What kind of oil was used in the sprocket gear housing?

2) What did the gear-driven "electrical generator" do? Was it suppose to generate a DC voltage, square wave, etc. and what was its purpose?

3) There were two lamp-indicators built in to the unit; the yellow or clear lamp on top and the red lamp on the bottom. What did they do? I don't think that either lamp indicated that the machine was locked (synchronized) into the system because there was always a "lock box" installed on the side of the sound reproducer. I would assume that one of the lights was a "sync" light, similar to the ones that were installed on the projectors.

Any information that you can share with me would be appreciated.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-25-2006, 05:58 AM:

Dick Vaughan should be the person to answer this; they are running an original Cinerama sound reproducer at Bradford.

[ 09-25-2006, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Furley ]

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 09-25-2006, 09:08 AM:

Not to be picky, but why is this in the large format forum?

Posted by Cary Loeser (Member # 2923) on 09-25-2006, 12:24 PM:

Please tell me what forum that this topic ahould be in and I will post it there. Thank you.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-26-2006, 03:06 AM:

Cary ... No, don't duplicate a post to another forum..for it's not allowed or it will be closed (need to read the posting rules in the faq and rules section next time..). Just keep this one going - others will have to get over it with this subject being posted in this handler's forum.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 09-26-2006, 03:21 AM:

If Im lucky I'll be able to ask next month, when I finaly (fingers crossed) get to see a working one.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 09-26-2006, 10:11 AM:

quote: Stephen Furley
Dick Vaughan should be the person to answer this; they are running an original Cinerama sound reproducer at Bradford

Thanks for the plug Stephen

I am not sure I can answer questions specifically about Carey's reproducer as his is a Westrex ours is an original Cinemeccanica. I will take a look to see if there are any similarities.

quote: Cameron Glendinning
If Im lucky I'll be able to ask next month, when I finaly (fingers crossed) get to see a working one.

Are you travelling all the way to Bradford or just down the road to see John Mitchell? [Big Grin]

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-26-2006, 03:53 PM:

It is a Selsyen type sync system and as such the motor serves as in effect a generator and a motor

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 09-27-2006, 04:31 AM:

quote: Dick Vaughan
Are you travelling all the way to Bradford or just down the road to see John Mitchell?

John Mitchell [Big Grin]

I've been planning to go since he first invited me in 1988. Unfortunatly I could never get the night off on one of his screening dates as there tended to be a projectionist shortage in Sydney that night, no wonder why! As I now control a roster the situation has changed.

Hopefully I will one day make it to Bradford [thumbsup]

Posted by Nick Scott (Member # 2850) on 09-27-2006, 05:29 AM:

Ive been to a couple of John Mitchells outdoor cinerama screenings they are fantastic. I saw Windjammer there it was great.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 09-27-2006, 11:10 AM:

Cameron please pass on my best wishes to John. It's been a while since we've been in touch
Enjoy your night [thumbsup]

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 09-27-2006, 09:10 PM:

John has had to close his country regular 35mm cinema, his last screening was last friday night, It apears that the local council will hopefully be reopening it. An 18 year era is coming to an end. [Frown]