Panavision Anamorphic Lens Adapter

[Paul Finn]

From a long time ago now, I have a genuine Panavision Special 2X anamorphic lens adapter for projection. It is the only one I have ever seen or know of. Physically it is very similar to the B&L anamorphics of the era. It has fully coated optics, is serial number 2537 and appears of excellent manufacture quality. Does anyone know the history of these lenses? Were they widely used, in the industry and did they have a good reputation?

Thank you, Paul Finn

[Gordon McLeod]

Post a picture please

[Jack Ondracek]

I've seen a couple. We used this one at a theatre in my home town. They seemed to work well, other than the new lenses were more efficient.
They hung in front of a pair of Century C's, after inserting the correct backup lens.
1st image rotated. Knob should be on top.

[Vern Dias]

I've seen a couple. We used this one at a theatre in my home town. They seemed to work well, other than the new lenses were more efficient.
They hung in front of a pair of Century C's, after inserting the correct backup lens.
1st image rotated. Knob should be on top.

Those were from 1954 or thereabouts. Consolidated Amusement co, in Hawaii used them in all of their 2nd run theatres. (The first run houses used the more expensive and much higher quality Bauch and Lomb cylindrical anamorphic lenses).

The super Panatar was apparently designed for theatres that couldn't afford a high quality anamorphic lens and was a light sink. You could watch the movie on the back wall of the projection booth due to the reflection from the rear prism alone. The front glass was also used for astigmatism correction, and was available in 20 foot throw increments. (80'-100', 60'-80', etc).

The unique feature was the ability to adjust the horizontal expansion factor. (That's what the big knob on top was for.)

[Gordon McLeod]

Paul posted that it looked like a B&L not the Prismatic style

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

That is Panavision's first product they marketed, and they sold a lot of them. There was a pair in my home town theater as well, and I remember the images being very sharp. The down side is the theater had to use Ashcraft mid sized lamp houses to light the 40 foot wide screen. 30 years later I go back to the theater to do a service call, and it's been split into 4 screens, but the Ashcrafts are still there, except converted to Xenon.

[Paul Finn]

I am not able to post a picture at this time. Lens is in storage. As I said, it is physically identical to the B&L anamorphics of that era. I have always been watching for a twin to have a matched pair.

Mark, was there ever a xenon modification kit for the large Ashcraft Core-Lite lamps?

Thank you again for the information, Paul Finn

[Gordon McLeod]

I am not able to post a picture at this time. Lens is in storage. As I said, it is physically identical to the B&L anamorphics of that era. I have always been watching for a twin to have a matched pair.

Mark, was there ever a xenon modification kit for the large Ashcraft Core-Lite lamps?

Thank you again for the information, Paul Finn

Yes Kniesley had a kit that would work in the corelites