New Guy Here

[Jeffrey Pratt]

Oh and also both the two new projectors are missing their lenses so that another big issue I'll have to think about at some point...eeks

[Ryan Gallagher]

Oh and also both the two new projectors are missing their lenses so that another big issue I'll have to think about at some point...eeks

Cool photos. I'd not seen that rewinder before, and we have (had) some pretty old ones here. Looks like you have a quite a project on your hands. Goals aside, if the restoration work (cosmetic or otherwise) is something you enjoy, I say go for it. If having usable machines was the goal there might be better starting points than this out there... but as you said saving one (or two) is kinda the idea.

If you ever get sick of trying, you can always ship one off to Hand Tool Rescue youtube guy so we can all watch him fight with one! I'm honestly shocked he has not had one of this vintage or earlier dropped in his lap yet! ... but I guess they don't quite fit in the "tool" category... though he has delved into period "appliance" type tools before. I think a projector is a tool for showing films. ;-)

Your easiest route on the reflector if it is not in usable condition after cleaning is probably going to be to look for more compatible arc-house bodies for donor parts. I'm just guessing but imagine re-silvering a vintage reflector to be a budget buster, but of course don't know your budget constraints either. ;-)

[Jeffrey Pratt]

Started to try clean these things up a bit, bases pretty much cleaned and moving as they should and started to work the lamp shells... IMG_3137 2.jpg

Pulled out one of the reflectors, still not sure if this cleanable and or polishable and wondering best way ..? IMG_3138.jpg

[Ryan Gallagher]

I bet the hobby DIY telescope communities would have resources and methods for reconditioning and re-coating reflectors, perhaps cheaper than more industrial outfits.

[Jeffrey Pratt]

Thanks for the tip, Ryan, about the telescopes...I'll look in and see if they have suggestions IMG_3204.jpg

[Ryan Gallagher]

Making quick work of these!

[Tony Bandiera Jr]

Nice group of vintage stuff.... too bad John E. passed away shortly before you came on board, he'd go crazy over all of this, and most likely had the parts you need to complete them. I haven't been able to get a hold of his daughter to find out what happened to his collection....

I do see something of some concern though:



Check that leftover film on the reel ...there is a (small) chance it could be nitrate, and there is enough of it there to be a big hazard. (On closer inspection, it looks like a small piece of VistVision footage..if it's safety film, DO NOT throw it away!)

Two ways of checking: Carefully unspool a foot or two and look at the edge marking to make sure it says "Safety Film" or DOES NOT SAY "NITRATE". (Some early safety film was unmarked, as was some nitrate. So if there are no markings, best to assume it is nitrate.)

The second (and more dangerous way) to check is to cut off a HALF FRAME sliver of the film, clamp it in a vice or other non flammable holder or tool. Take it outdoors, well away from other combustilbes or flammable liquids/vapors, and using a match on a very long stick, touch the flame to the film. If it melts with maybe a small flame of its own that goes out, it's safety film. If it disappears in a quick flash of flame, it's nitrate. In either event, you MUST be very careful to not breathe in any smoke it generates. Safety film is moderately toxic, nitrate film fumes are potentially lethal as it generates nitric oxide (when inhaled, turns to nitric acid) and other bad actors.

If it turns out to be nitrate, it must be disposed of. In the meantime you'll need to get a metal film can (not the shipping cans for prints) and seal that film up, using the foil tape used for HVAC ducts. Keep the can in a cool place until it is disposed of. Brad Miller or someone else on here will most likely know of how to dispose of it properly. (I did dispose of an old nitrate newsreel many years ago but I don't endorse how I did it, it was extremely dangerous and I got lucky.)

[Jeffrey Pratt]

Tony
Thanks so much for the info about the film, it never would have occurred to me that the films could have been nitrate. I kinda just was thinking they were basically modern. But I did check all the film pieces in the various reels as per your recommendation and they all are labeled Safety film. Not really looked closely enough at them to have any determination of what the sybject is, but don't worry I wont be throwing them away.
Thanks Again

[Paul Finn]

After some explanations, I was able to dispose of a twenty minute reel of 35mm nitrate base film with the Michigan State Police section that handles bombs and other hazardous materials. It is like the military explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) units of operation. I did not want to just throw the film into a dumpster.

Paul Finn