Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Christie pulls its film line of equipment

This is topic Christie pulls its film line of equipment in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-01-2009, 06:36 PM:

Link to pdf

quote:
For more than 40 years Christie has made the most reliable and innovative film products in the world. From the Academy® Award winning Ultramittent® to the world’s first gearless projector, Christie has always been at the forefront of film projection.

In these rapidly changing times and with the move to digital cinema projection firmly underway, Christie has made the decision to phase out all new production of film equipment.

Jim Dukes

There is more in the pdf.

Posted by Karl Borowski (Member # 5424) on 10-01-2009, 06:58 PM:

Fucking-A!

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 10-01-2009, 07:14 PM:

Sign of the times? [Eek!]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-01-2009, 07:49 PM:

It's pure marketing strategy!! Of course.... if they have nothing else to offer what are ya going to buy!!!

Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-01-2009, 08:16 PM:

Simplex, Cinemeccanica,...oh yeah...and Kinoton.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 10-01-2009, 08:23 PM:

Isn't Strong still manufacturing Century as well as Simplex?

Posted by Jack Theakston (Member # 4484) on 10-01-2009, 08:36 PM:

Got along without you before I met you
Gonna get along without you now
Gonna find somebody who's twice as cute
'Cause I didn't like you anyhow

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-01-2009, 08:39 PM:

I wouldn't be surprised if Strong stopped manufacturing film equipment as well. If only they would have stopped 30 years ago...

Posted by Michael Hossen (Member # 4274) on 10-01-2009, 09:13 PM:

quote: Jack Theakston
Got along without you before I met you
Gonna get along without you now
Gonna find somebody who's twice as cute
'Cause I didn't like you anyhow

Haha. I never was a huge fan of Christie either...

Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 10-01-2009, 09:21 PM:

they made nice platters.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-01-2009, 09:22 PM:

And lamphouses.

And projectors, though it took them a while to become truly excellent at that.

Their Bevan Poos truly rocked.

Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 10-01-2009, 10:20 PM:

quote: Joe Redifer

Their Bevan Poos truly rocked.

I never got to try there bevan poos

That would be film puk right.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 10-01-2009, 10:51 PM:

Yea...good riddance to them danged Bevan Poos doo-dads!

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
if they have nothing else to offer what are ya going to buy

Ya.definitely a marketing plan..doing what killed Beta with Sony's desire to make dollars on every product made instead of what JVC did with VHS in where they wanted only pennies in selling their products - in passing the savings to their customers.

I can see the day when a digital unit will cost close to the same with a SLC/P35GPS setup if that's the case.

Wow, looking like a deja'vu happening all over again.

-Monte

Posted by Demetris Thoupis (Member # 833) on 10-02-2009, 02:13 AM:

It was bound to happen. The fun part will be when they realise that film actually will still be around for many years to come.
Demetris

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-02-2009, 06:45 AM:

Strong always had a better export business and is likely keeping their manufacturing going. Century never sold as well as the Simplex, especially on Export. I'd think you can still buy a Century as they are still in the price sheet but I'd be surprised if they are really cranking them out.

Steve

Posted by Matt Skilton (Member # 5288) on 10-02-2009, 08:02 AM:

A shame but not a surprise. Our site uses both Christie platters and lamphouses and I like them, but at least they'll continue to make spares for them.

Posted by Bernard Tonks (Member # 809) on 10-02-2009, 11:25 AM:

quote: Steve Guttag
Strong always had a better export business and is likely keeping their manufacturing going. Century never sold as well as the Simplex, especially on Export. I'd think you can still buy a Century as they are still in the price sheet but I'd be surprised if they are really cranking them out.

There are quite a few Century installations in the UK, the last one I saw (with Strong Platters) was at the Vue Greenwich (The O2) is an exciting new cinema experience for London. The fantastic cinema features state-of-the-art technology and the biggest screen in London. It is situated next to North Greenwich tube station, in the building previously known as the 'Millennium Dome'.

Screen 11: 776 seats, 200 of these seats are in the balcony 'Premium' and situated in a mezzanine (over 18s only) , which is located towards the rear of the auditorium. Not sure of the screen size but a rough estimation was at least 80 foot scope width. The film was partly subtitled, and I was impressed with the rock steady picture.

Website: http://www.myvue.com/

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-02-2009, 11:38 AM:

Sure there are plenty of Century projectors around...in the US as well...just never as many as Simplex...I think I heard the ratio was on the order of 10:1.

Steve

Posted by Damien Taylor (Member # 4255) on 10-02-2009, 12:05 PM:

Didn't Century start out as a generic parts manufacturer for Simplex machines, that ended up making a Simplex clone? Or am I thinking about someone else?

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-02-2009, 12:14 PM:

FYI: Century IS Western Electric. The same factory that made the Universal base and the #1 soundhead, was still cranking when Western Electric "divested" its many businesses.

Amps & speakers became "Altec."
Transformers became "Peerless."
Sprocketed equipment became "Century." Louis

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 10-02-2009, 12:23 PM:

Century is way more popular than Simplex over here.

A lot of former Warner (now Vue) sites have them, although they do have some Simplex. Showcase use Century, as do some of the former UCI (now Odeon) sites. Apollo & Reel cinemas have some and many indpendant cinemas use Century. I can think of only two sites in my patch that are Simplex.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 10-02-2009, 02:31 PM:

quote: Jack Theakston
Got along without you before I met you
Gonna get along without you now
Gonna find somebody who's twice as cute
'Cause I didn't like you anyhow

ROFL!!

That's the funniest thing I've heard all week! [Wink]

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 10-02-2009, 03:48 PM:

..."parts and upgrade kits will remain available for as long as our customers require them"

Hmmm, so that technically means they wont stop production. [Confused]

Agree with Mark on this one- its marketing strategy all the way. Now, if Century were discontinued, that would be tragic.

Cheers

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-02-2009, 04:41 PM:

I wonder what it would cost to build an AW3 platter out of parts. I also wonder what would happen if someone called them on November 1 and tried to order an entire multiplex worth of equipment. Would they really say no?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-02-2009, 05:02 PM:

Odds are they have enough to build or have built several of their stuff. I would think it would depend on the size of the order. Ramping down a production line probably has meant layoffs...and making a small run isn't quite as easy as just pushing a button to turn it back on again.

Steve

Posted by Dick Prather (Member # 1136) on 10-03-2009, 12:47 AM:

Sam Kaplan, a NYC Local #306 projectionist, started making "Kaplan Sure Fit" replacement parts for Simplex projectors in his machine shop. I think sometime in the early 1930's.

He also sold Kaplan (Sure Fit) projectors, a Simplex clone, in both front and rear shutter versions. Later a Super Kaplan which was a Simplex clone with a Century C type lens mount

I think in the late 1930's Sam Kaplan's Company. was bought out and it became Century Projector Corp. Their first machine was the Century K, a Simplex clone, with a complete line of parts in plain yellow boxes with numbers stamped on them. Part numbers were the same as Simplex.

The first Century C & CC versions came out in 1940 with cast iron frames. I have heard different stories about the design of the C. Larry Little of Los Vagas told me he gave a pencil drawing of a simple vertical shaft machine to Sam Kaplan. Another one was a large theatre chain did not like Simplex equipment and wanted something simple and different. I am not sure which if either is true. If anyone has any information on this I would love to hear it.

Western Electric Exports under the Westrex name was a licensed exporter of Century machines. Australia was licensed to make and sell them under the Centrex name. Lots of them still running.
Dick

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-03-2009, 08:25 AM:

"Supposed to last "a Century." Louis

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 10-03-2009, 08:57 AM:

quote: Dick Prather
Larry Little of Los Vagas told me he gave a pencil drawing of a simple vertical shaft machine to Sam Kaplan.

Throughout my career, I have met no less than three guys (projectionists), all who claimed to have designed the Simplex XL projector. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 10-03-2009, 11:31 AM:

quote: Tim Reed
Throughout my career, I have met no less than three guys (projectionists), all who claimed to have designed the Simplex XL projector. [Roll Eyes]

There was only one true designer of the Simplex XL..a man by the name of Howard Straight. (I hope I have the last name spelled correctly..)

I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times and he was a mechanical genius. If you could think of a way to do something with an XL he could make it happen. He had actually designed and prototyped an XL for Vistavision!!

I learned quite a lot from him before he passed away, a true gentleman and always willing to help out.

Posted by Bob Koch (Member # 1062) on 10-03-2009, 02:14 PM:

Tony; I completely agree, Howard was a great guy and helped me out many times.

Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 10-03-2009, 02:25 PM:

So is this an indication that the 3 major chains of exhibiting are actually going to be starting a full conversion from 35mm to d-cinema? I know Cinemark has been putting in full christie equipment in all their new theatres for the past 10 years.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-03-2009, 02:40 PM:

By personal conversation, Howard said there were only 2 guys (and he is one) who developed the XL. Somewhere in my office, I have a framed wall certificate with the other guy's name on it. Louis

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 10-03-2009, 02:47 PM:

Jonathan,
it's been my understanding that the newest builds, except the Utah one which was all digital, the 35mm consoles, heads and platters were used equipment installed in anticipation of going digital in the short term.
But, yes, the Christie package was what was going to the new builds.
Some of the busier locations that opened with CFS Rentecs later had their consoles changed out to Christie, including San Angelo, which was the last new build to open, in 1999, with CFS Rentec consoles.
Your building is similar enough to mine that our booth tech gets his house numbers confused when he's here because he's thinking "Grand Prairie".

Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 10-03-2009, 03:03 PM:

Ahh, yes he does get confused because we're so similar (but we only have 15 screens). I even believe we each have an ancient peavey amp in the same spot. We're getting a Barco in a few weeks and the way I understand it, Cinemark is not that interested in taking our 20 yr old Simplex or the 60,000 hr console, so it'll be nice to have a full set of extra parts.

Posted by Dick Prather (Member # 1136) on 10-03-2009, 03:19 PM:

Larry Little was talking about the Century machine not the XL. His meeting with Sam Kaplan was in the 30's

I never got to meet Howard but talked to him a couple of times. Every time I was in his area he was out of town. Did rebuild some of his 35/70 XL's. Nice to have all the parts fit as they were ment to. He did really good machine work. After rebuilding hundreds of each the XL is a far better machine then a Century.

Bob Koch, when are you comming to my area? Would love to meet you also. Did you know Jim Gillispie in Santa Ana?

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 10-03-2009, 05:00 PM:

Yes, Larry Little did work on the Century C.

I haven't seen him in years, not since I rented some lenses from him while working dailies on Casino in 1994. Larry was one of the guys that helped me get into this business, back when he ran Little Machine Co here (when he wasn't running the booth over at the Las Vegas Cinerama).

Is Larry still with us? I know John Eickhof used to stay in touch with him...

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 10-03-2009, 05:45 PM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
By personal conversation, Howard said there were only 2 guys (and he is one) who developed the XL. Somewhere in my office, I have a framed wall certificate with the other guy's name on it. Louis

Louis,
Was the other guy Willy Borberg?
Bob

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-03-2009, 07:52 PM:

Yes! Louis

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 10-05-2009, 11:01 PM:

quote: Dick Prather
Larry Little was talking about the Century machine not the XL.

Yes, I know, Dick. It's just I've heard so many claims like that, which turn out to be BS.

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 10-08-2009, 12:16 PM:

[ 10-08-2009, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Adam Martin ]

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 10-08-2009, 01:19 PM:

[ 10-08-2009, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Adam Martin ]

Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 10-08-2009, 05:56 PM:

[ 10-08-2009, 07:32 PM: Message edited by: Adam Martin ]

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 10-08-2009, 07:12 PM:

Wow, who would have thought a thread about Christie shutting down their film projector line could turn political and be at risk of getting locked! [uhoh]

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 10-08-2009, 07:32 PM:

Indeed.

Posted by Geena Phillips (Member # 3726) on 10-13-2009, 03:45 PM:

Now I'm all et up with curiosity!

Posted by Karl Borowski (Member # 5424) on 10-13-2009, 06:26 PM:

Jonathan, I have seen examples to the contrary re: Christie-only equipment at that chain.