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Author Topic: Help me identify a mfg. year for some Century Projectors, if you can! Logan Ayliffe Film Handler Posts: 24 From: Asheville, NC, United States of America Registered: Jan 2009 posted 03-24-2009 12:14 PM                     Heya there film gurus. I have some Century SA and C projectors and I am trying to find an estimated year of manufacturer. I called Strong Ballantyne but their customer service says they don't keep serial numbers back that far. Here they are, if anyone has a clue. Century SA Projectors - #4595 #4594 Century C Projector - #C-8938 Lacking actual manufacture dates, which model is older? The C's or the SAs?  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 03-24-2009 01:13 PM                     You might drop a note to Balantyne of Omaha (Strong) who have been manufacturing Century for the last couple of decades and perhaps they could tell you. The Cs are the oldest.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-24-2009 01:24 PM                     The c is the older  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 03-24-2009 01:53 PM                     Robert, he already called Strong and they were no help..do you know of a specific person he could ask for who may be able to help?  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-24-2009 02:32 PM                     do a site search here I believe dick prather posted a list once  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 03-24-2009 04:16 PM                     My wife and I were given a tour of the Balantyne plant in '06 by one of the executives. But would you believe I have forgotten his name. Of course these days I'm forgetting a lot of things. Go to their website (www.strongcinema.com) and look for the "contact us" button. Or call again and try to get past the pretty young thing at the front dest that answers the phone.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 03-24-2009 06:14 PM                        Century never made s/n 1-100, so 101 is the first one. I have JJ 104 & 105. LOuis  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 03-24-2009 07:50 PM                     Wow, Louis, I pretty sure worked with JJ #106 and #107 for many years ... many years ago. I'll have to check when I go there again. It had the reversed gate/trap setup, which I have never seen any parts listing/ pictorial for.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-24-2009 09:09 PM                        JJ s/n 119 (might be 118) is still in daily use, as far as I know.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-24-2009 10:49 PM                     and I happen to have jj 101 nad 102  |  IP: Logged Dick Prather Master Film Handler Posts: 259 From: Portland, OR, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-25-2009 03:00 PM                     Strong does not have very many records or manuals of anything they did not make. ORC had books with serial numbers but I have only seen copies of the first book. All pre-war. I have not had much luck finding exact serial numbers for Century other then the first 1000 or so As posted the Century C was before the SA. C #8938 was probably made around 1948-49. Then came the H in the early 1950's and the A in the mid 1950's. I thought Century advertised it as the model A with the "S" being single shutter and "D" meaning double shutter version with all kinds of other letters added for water cooling, cinefocus, etc. Your SA's #4594 & #4595 are probably around 1960 or so. Dick  |  IP: Logged Logan Ayliffe Film Handler Posts: 24 From: Asheville, NC, United States of America Registered: Jan 2009 posted 03-25-2009 03:03 PM                     Thanks so much for the information and attempts from everyone, I really appreciate it!  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-26-2009 01:15 PM                     quote: Dick Prather As posted the Century C was before the SA. C #8938 was probably made around 1948-49. Then came the H in the early 1950's and the A in the mid 1950's. I have an issue of IP from 1958 announcing the introduction of the model H. I believe the A models coincided with the introduction of the JJ2 35/70mm projector in 1962 or '63. Bob  |  IP: Logged Mitchell Dvoskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1869 From: West Milford, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2001 posted 03-26-2009 05:51 PM                     What is a Century MSA?  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 03-26-2009 05:58 PM                     quote: Mitchell Dvoskin What is a Century MSA? Century SA, direct drive (that's what the M designates). -Aaron  |  IP: Logged

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