Century SA, direct drive (that's what the M designates).
-Aaron
Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-26-2009, 06:54 PM:
Bob, the H coincided with the introduction of Cinemascope 55. The later JJ's were a corruption of the 55mm projector, which continued to the end of 70mm. (only 15mm difference!) Louis
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-26-2009, 10:58 PM:
There is one thats older then the C and thats the Waller Gunnery Projector. A few of those made it into exhibition after WW-2. Looked like a C but was called something else which slips my mind at the moment.
Actually Louis there is one BIG difference in the CS55 movements from everything else Century built... they had a slightly accelerated pull down which was done by sliding the cam pin (mounted on a vee block) just slightly back and forth via a ball bearing rider and machined cam that was underneath the main cam itself. It was quite ingenious. My movement is at the Chicago Cinema Museum.
Also, wasn't the CS-55 machine called the Model EE?
Mark
Posted by Dick Prather (Member # 1136) on 03-26-2009, 11:34 PM:
Robert, you could be closer on dates then I was. I will have to look at some of my IP's and refresh my memory ans update my info. My "C" date is probably close but others may be early.
Cantury C & CC's came out in 1940 as a major change from the Century K. Century K was a Kaplan or Simplex clone. I have the gunnery trainer projector as a model "N" and special units known as a model "S". ALL of these projectors along with the "C" used the same consecutive serial numbers.
The gunery trainer machines had a shutter cover half the length of the "C" and other shaft attachments for sync.
Dick
Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 03-27-2009, 09:46 AM:
I've seen references to a Century model P. Does anyone know about that?
Bob
Posted by Marc Hansen (Member # 705) on 03-27-2009, 08:10 PM:
So as long as we are talking about it what would be approximate age of a Westrex 2001-E/3 Serial Number 2193?
Posted by Bob Jones (Member # 1756) on 03-27-2009, 09:40 PM:
This may help -- or narrow it down a little more.
I just bought a pair of Century SAWs with TR3 soundheads a couple of months ago. I know they were purchased new as a pair - and were in a private screening room from the date of the original purchase. I did not buy the lamphouses - but they were also purchased new with the initial install - they were Strong Mighty Mites.
I called Strong and talked to Jim - who is the archivist - to try to date my new acquisition -- I was told the same thing about the lack of any serial number info for Century prior to their acquisition -- BUT WHERE I DID STRIKE GOLD -- was that I had the serial numbers for the Lamphouses - which Strong made - and he had the information on those - and I was told the lamphouses were shipped from the factory on a particular day in March, 1968.
So - because I know that all the equipment was new and installed together - I put the date of manufacturer of the these Century serial numbers to be around March, 1968.
Century SAW - SERIAL # 1651 AND 1688
and Century TR-3 Sound Heads - SERIAL # 4474 AND 4475
Allow me to add - these projectors only have 206 and 236 hours on them respectively -- and are pristine - they look like they just rolled off the assembly line. The serial numbers on the Essanay Zipper changeovers are also consecutively numbered.
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 01-09-2012, 12:13 AM:
It has been 1017 days since the last post.