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Author Topic: Anyone know who made this unusual passive soundhead? Jon Miller Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 973 From: San Diego, CA, USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-07-2004 09:10 PM                     While thumbing through an old Richardson's Bluebook of Projection (seventh edition, 1942), I happened upon this picture of an unusual soundhead... The threading path is kid of weird...starting at the lower loop (1), the film travels down a guide chute and around a rotary-stabilized drum (2) held in place by a lateral guide roller (looks more like a Motigraph SH-7500-style assembly than one on a Simplex or RCA soundhead). From the drum, the film heads back up to the projector head's lower feed sprocket (3), then down again through the soundhead to the take-up reel. An outboard canister (5) houses the exciter lamp; a mirror mounted at the center of the sound drum reflects the modulated light beam outward towards the door-mounted phototube (6) (needless to say, the door must be closed for the sound to work!). This design appears to be totally passively driven, like a magnetic penthouse; the projector would have been driven by the motor through some form of a chain or belt drive. The book claims this head was widely used and, despite what one might think, fairly low in flutter. Can anyone identify this soundhead? The book does not mention it by manufacurer or model number. Thanks!  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-07-2004 09:15 PM                     Yea, thats a Western Electric sound reproducer. I used to have one of those in my junk pile. Can't remember the model number of it off hand though. I believe at the time it was made it was Western's least expensive sound system, although the reproducer was no light weight sort of thing and was well built. One bad thing about it....don't open the door whihle its running as you loose the playback! Its not passive. The film is propelled through by the lower projector hold back sprocket. In other words the film enbters the sound head via the chute then is scanned and and is taken back up to the lower projector sprocket and then down again through to the take up reel. If the model numnber pops into mind I'll be back and post it but someone else may beat me to it. Mark  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 01-07-2004 09:51 PM                       sounds like a question for Bob Koch, but the model 211 comes to mind.  |  IP: Logged Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-07-2004 11:25 PM                     Yes, I think that is a WE 211 or something like that.  |  IP: Logged Bob Koch Expert Film Handler Posts: 183 From: williams ca Registered: Nov 2001 posted 01-08-2004 01:19 PM                     Absolutely correct Sam. WE 209-211 built for their 3MF Mirrophonic systems circa 1935-7. Unfortunately,I saw way too many of these. Because of the cylindrical optical system they were a bitch to align and collected oil worse than anything. Then for the coupe de grace, as Mark said, open the door and the romance was over.  |  IP: Logged

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