Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Any US dealers still stock carbons?

This is topic Any US dealers still stock carbons? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 08-20-2010, 11:31 AM:

I didn't get any replies to my post in the Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale forum for carbons. Does anybody know of any suppliers/dealers over there who may still have stocks? Jack Roe over here don't have any small ones, and don't have many of any size. I don't think there are any British cinemas still using them now. Since there are some in the US I might have better luck trying over there. The ones I really need are no longer made, and haven't been for years - they're for a Bell and Howell 609 - and were 5.5 neg and 6 mm pos, but 'sixes and sevens' will work if the positive is shortened by a few mm to stop the douser hitting it.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-20-2010, 11:41 AM:

Jack Roe in the US (in Nashville, TN) sells Marble carbons. Regular 6mm and 7mm sizes should be available. If they don't have them, I can dig up some old Nationals (the good ones, not the Indian-made ones that are available now) to send to you. These are used in some followspots as well, and should not be especially rare.

I missed your FS/WTB post, but I do have an unopened red and blue can of Pearlux (?) carbons that I believe are the correct ones for the Film-Arc. The can contains both positives and negatives. I don't remember how many there are of each. If this is what you need, let me know and send me your address and I'll send it to you.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 08-20-2010, 01:49 PM:

Scott, I'll send you a private message later this evening.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-20-2010, 03:45 PM:

Will check, I may also have some Pearlex. Louis

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 08-21-2010, 05:42 AM:

Thank you Louis.

Posted by Warren Smyth (Member # 1838) on 08-23-2010, 09:25 PM:

I have some 5mm neg and 6mm pos Lorrain and some 5.5mm neg and 6mm pos National carbons. We live a long way apart however. Send me an email if I can help. I have several hundred.

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 08-24-2010, 11:48 AM:

Try Cinema Carbons. We bought from them a few years ago at the Landmark Loews Jersey.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 08-31-2010, 05:43 PM:

Mitchell,

I'll keep that name in mind. I'm going to try to get some from somebody who has some old stock that they no longer need first, because the cost may be lower, but if that doesn't work out, I'll give these people a call.

Scott, Louis and Warren, can you let me know what you have available, and how much you are asking for them please.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-31-2010, 08:57 PM:

Stephen; check your email. Louis

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 09-01-2010, 02:44 PM:

The prices from Cinema Carbons aren't too bad either, only a couple hundred $ more than we were paying for 250 negs and pos. nine years ago just before we converted, a modest increase especially for such a specialty product.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-02-2010, 03:19 PM:

Somebody should come out with "digital carbons," then they could triple the price and watch sales skyrocket! [Wink]

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-02-2010, 05:25 PM:

Right! I'm still working on my tube-type CP=650. [Big Grin]

Louis

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 09-02-2010, 10:49 PM:

I'm still trying to figure out how to insert the Vitaphone disc into the DTS player...

Posted by Greg Routenburg (Member # 1742) on 09-03-2010, 11:31 AM:

On the Cinema Carbons site they talk about AC and DC carbons. The DC is straight forward but how does an AC Carbon system work? In what sort of applications would you see it used?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-03-2010, 02:21 PM:

AC carbons were used in the Strong Trouper and Genarco also made a AC spotlight called the Metropolitan
Also Ashcraft made the cyclex lamphouse that used AC carbons and a special motor generator that generated i believe 48Hz ac to prevent shutter beat flicker

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-04-2010, 02:09 PM:

ac arcs were also used in other applications; exposing printing plates was a major one at one time, and some types of arc streetlights were also a.c.

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 09-04-2010, 06:19 PM:

The Cyclex generator was 96 cycles.
Bob

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 11-13-2010, 05:27 PM:

To the people who offered to sell me carbons, sorry I haven't got back to you. I've had some problems recently and have been working very long hours so I haven't had time to deal with this. Hopefully things should be getting back to normal soon.

Are they still available?

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 11-13-2010, 05:49 PM:

A.C carbons are a different beast to the D.C versions.

The major differences that I am aware of are -:

The core's mechanical structure
The core composition

As the AC current 'flip/flops' between the front and rear carbons, the is a much reduced crater formed at the tip of any one carbon. Effectively, there is a crater in BOTH carbons but this is much reduced in size. This means that for 1/2 of each cycle, the rear crater is facing the aperture and not a reflector. The altered construction helps to alleviate this.
As the carbons are hit with 50 cycles/sec (or 60 cycles), the composition of the carbon is infused with a compound which radiates light for a longer time- a bit like a heavy tungsten filament does. This helps to reduce the flicker at the arc and the pulsing through the shutter.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 11-14-2010, 12:28 AM:

the big differnece is that AC carbons are flame based DC carbons are core based in there construction to produce a focusable crater to the reflector