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Author Topic: Most Reliable Piece in the Booth Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-04-2004 09:00 AM                     Last night I was looking around the booth thinking "what is the most reliable thing in here", then my thought was interrupted by the ding....ding....ding of the Hatke Reel End Alarm and I knew. These things are at least 50 years old, have only one moving part, and I've never had a failure in 18 years. They are a marvel of simplicity. Designed today, it would probably have 40 parts and 10 adjustments or at least two microprocessors and require a computer with proprietary software to operate a tenth as reliably. Anybody know the history of them?  |  IP: Logged Edward Jurich Master Film Handler Posts: 305 From: Las Vegas USA Registered: Jul 2003 posted 02-04-2004 11:02 AM                     Aren't those the ones that use ball bearings that when the reel spins fast enough they ring the bell. Those things may never wear out.  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-04-2004 07:00 PM                     These units were a Godsend. The feed magazines of the era were equipped with a little arm that has a weight at one end near a bell on the outside while, inside the magazine the arm terminated in a small roller. This roller ran on the emulsion side of the film. As the spool emptied the arm would fall, the weight springing against the bell just once. The problem with the sensor arm was that if it stopped, the little roller would scratch the image . Even when turning, it would press very hard against the film as it passed the radius point of the spool. Threading was a trick also, causing many pinched fingers, as you had to hold the arm up until the reel edge passed the arm on the way into the magazine. The Hatke was a very good tool for improving print life. (Some operators missed fewer reel changes since there were 3 rings instead of one.)  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 02-04-2004 08:15 PM                     Hatke reel alarms rock! I still have two of them laying around.  |  IP: Logged Don Sneed Master Film Handler Posts: 451 From: Texas City, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2001 posted 02-04-2004 10:45 PM                        I woke up from a many of good sleep while working a single screen booth in my younger days, it sure was the best, can y'all remember the days of putting a quarter or a fender washer in the film when rewinding to ding the film mag....now that this was mention....the reel end alarm was the most reliable piece of equiptment in the booth....  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-04-2004 11:48 PM                        I like the ones with the long thin arm & weight hanging below. They look like they're busy even when they're not ringing.  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 02-05-2004 10:57 AM                    I have the pendulum-type alarms, too, although mine seem somewhat homemade. Most reliable equipment: Is there anything more reliable than a traditional projector base?  |  IP: Logged Edward Jurich Master Film Handler Posts: 305 From: Las Vegas USA Registered: Jul 2003 posted 02-05-2004 11:11 AM                     -------------------------------------------------- Is there anything more reliable than a traditional projector base? -------------------------------------------------- Not if it has an elevation adjustment that keeps slipping  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-05-2004 11:16 AM                        RCA Photophone racks are pretty reliable. It's interesting to see how many theatres are still using them, usually with modern Dolby systems installed. Neumade handcrank rewinds are good, too. I hate hearing the reel-end alarm bells in the auditorium. There are few things more annoying to the audience than hearing bells ringing during the film. They're fine if the insulation in the booth is good, however.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-05-2004 11:33 AM                     Technicolor reels are pretty reliable..oh damnit I forgot to take my medication again, sorry people.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-05-2004 01:10 PM                     I have seen a Brenkert base/pedestal where the mount for the soundhead (a casting) actually cracked in half and the whole projector came crashing to the floor in the middle of a show! -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Richard Greco Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1180 From: Plant City, FL Registered: Nov 2003 posted 02-05-2004 01:15 PM                     The most reliable piece of equipment in my booth would be the chair I sit in Everything seems to always break down!  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-05-2004 01:20 PM                     I think Richard may hhit the nail on the head... The projectionists stool is certainly well made. I too have had base problems with LL3's parts cracking. Just repaired a colar on the elevation control of one of my rental bases!! Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 02-05-2004 01:51 PM                     I dunno, my sound rack towers are pretty reliable, havent had one fall over yet, even when run into it on a scooter.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-05-2004 01:57 PM                     quote: Jeremy Fuentes: Technicolor reels are pretty reliable... Reliably BAD! So I guess, if you can rely on something to be bad, then it IS reliable! No?  |  IP: Logged

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