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Author Topic: Mystery 16mm projector David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 11-04-2008 05:38 PM                        Does anyone recognize the projector in the picture on the following page? Grandview Theatre Insight - 16mm anyone? This was in the theater I've taken over and the entire projector is painted with a heavy coat of pink, thereby obscuring any identifying marks. I'd like to find an operating or maintenance manual to use as a reference to see if I can't get it going again. -David  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 11-04-2008 05:52 PM                     Looks like an old RCA converted to run carbon arc. Takeup looks definitely from a B&H adaptation for large reel usage. -Monte  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-04-2008 06:14 PM                     It would be nice if that film wasn't draped over it to see it better  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 11-04-2008 06:20 PM                     The stand, lamphouse & take up mechanism appear to be from a later model Bell & Howell FilmoArc. The projector is an RCA 400 or similar RCA model 16mm projector with the ass-end (amplifier) removed so it could be used with the arc lamp. The feed reel arm does not appear to be of either B&H or RCA manufacture and looks home-made to me.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 11-04-2008 06:26 PM                     True, feed definitely looks homemade, but that motorized take up ass'y, esp the cloth belt used as a friction device on the spindle ass'y for constant torque for takeup definitely hit me as a B&H setup.  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 11-04-2008 06:27 PM                     Looks like an RCA 400 series projector. The lamp is not original or is an added feature since the RCA lamps were quite square green boxes. Note the black framing knob at the top of the case behind the lens and aperture areas. The 6,000 foot reel arm is also an adaptation.  |  IP: Logged David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 11-04-2008 07:00 PM                        Cool, thanks for the info. The picture is one that I grabbed on my first walkthrough, so I wasn't able to getting a clearer picture. Now that I have the theatre, the booth and environs are second on the list for cleaning. The first is a 20 gallon grease trap that hasn't been cleaned in years apparently. Found this in the Prelinger archives... B&H 400 Sales Film? Also found a few sources for the maintenance manual on eBay. -David  |  IP: Logged Fred Georges Master Film Handler Posts: 257 From: Lombard, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2000 posted 11-04-2008 07:39 PM                     Frankensixteen is a combination Bell & Howell FilmoArc lamphouse (Converted to Xenon by Leonard Pinkus) FilmoArc base & motorized FilmoArc take up arm. The projector is an RCA 400. The feed arm is from an Eastman 25. Me thinks they should have used the rest of the Eastman!  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-04-2008 08:35 PM                     For the benefit of the archives...here's the picture being discussed.  |  IP: Logged William Del Valle Film Handler Posts: 7 From: Houston,Texas ,United States Registered: Jan 2006 posted 11-04-2008 09:14 PM                     THE projector is aN RCA 400 about 1960 vintage. the take up looks to be a B&H modified rig. About that time RCA had replaced most of the steel gears with nylon or fiber gears (to make it cheaper).I Have parts(steel gears) and manuals for all RCA projectors. My dad designed them for 50 years. I can supply you with whatever you need for RCA projectors. The projector probably need just a cleaning. RCA projectors will outrun any projector made.You can email me directly at wd3_77082@yahoo.com  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 11-04-2008 09:42 PM                     psst! Edit you post and take your email out. Your profile has your email post for ones to reply back to you - Just put down "email me for info" in it's place.  |  IP: Logged Dick Prather Master Film Handler Posts: 259 From: Portland, OR, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 11-05-2008 03:49 PM                     It's called a RCA Porta Arc and was a slightly modified RCA 400 projector. They had a base with shelf for an amplifier. Arc used Purlex carbons (5.5mm neg & 6mm pos. Same carbons as B&H, Ampro, Victor, etc. Lamp is a modified Strong Junior Hi design with a smaller reflector. Worked OK but Ampro and B&H put out more light with larger reflectors. Looks like someone has modified the upper & lower reel arms on this one. Dick  |  IP: Logged

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