8mm Forum: Ampro Projectors

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Topic: Ampro Projectors

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 19, 2009 07:37 AM

These always look like really nice machines:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Variable-Speed-AMPRO-16mm-SOUND-PROJECTOR-cased-WORKING_W0QQitemZ390038201205QQihZ026QQcategoryZ11722QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Are parts readily available?
Do they perform well?

-Mike

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John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 791
From: Northridge, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 19, 2009 09:48 AM

This has come up before I think. There are no parts. Ampro was merged with Graflex and the projector redesigned in the 1960s. Later the company was acquired by Singer. There are a lot of those projectors around (the US Military had a big contract for telecine versions of the Singer and those show up on ebay).

The Stylist was the cheaper model of the Ampro Line and has a tube amp and a governor controlled motor. They use a phototube pick up. The top of the line was the Premier which had a bigger amp and a longer body. All these machines had a barrel shutter. They are noisy by today's standards but fun to run. Be prepared to spend a fair amount to replace all the old wax/paper caps in the amp but most of the tubes will probably be ok. The amp was a decent design and used dc on the filament for the pre-amp stages for lower noise.

A fun projector, but for a good reliable machine get one of the last of the Eiki or Elmo machines.

John

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Martin Jones
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1269
From: Thetford , Norfolk,England
Registered: May 2008

posted March 19, 2009 10:01 AM

Interestingly, I worked for Smith's Industries (Aviation Division) at Basingstoke in the sixties. They had taken over the Kelvin Hughes Company, and in the factory there were several incomplete Ampro's (Stylists, I think, and brown in colour) which Kelvin Hughes had been previously assembling under licence for Ampro in the UK. I regret now that I didn't negotiate the acquisition of those brand new mechanisms.

Martin

--------------------
Retired TV Service Engineer
Ongoing interest in Telecine....

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Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 723
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Registered: Jul 2006

posted March 20, 2009 09:43 PM

The AMPRO STYLIST MAJOR and the MAJOR MK2 are the rolls royce of the Ampro projectors, very well made and hansome to look at!
Pat [Big Grin]

--------------------
"Raise The Titanic!", It would of been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!

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David Pannell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1072
From: Horsham, West Sussex, UK
Registered: Nov 2004

posted March 21, 2009 04:35 AM

I have to echo Patrick's remarks. I have 2 Stylist Educational models - as per the one advertised - and a Stylist Major Mk 2. Please see my photos of the Major and review of it elsewhere on this Forum.

I absolutely LOVE these machines, and if properly maintained and serviced, can actually be almost as quiet as the Eikis and Elmos, though of course, not quite.

I have found them very kind to film and built like a tank. Stylist models can take the 1,000 watt lamp, which makes a fantastic difference to the projected image. It is the Premier range which is limited to the 750 watt lamp. Premiers, being older, usually require quite a lot of remedial works, - more so than the Stylist models, particularly as John says, regarding the replacement of the capacitors. Wiring insulation can also be a problem on these too.

No. The Stylist range wins hands down every time, and on the models I have, all capacitors are still in first class condition. I have not had to replace any parts at all on any of the machines. I checked all caps with an LCR bridge when I first acquired these projectors, and found no shortcomings at all.

The Major has two fixed speeds: 16 fps for silent films, and 24 fps for sound films. The other Stylist models have variable speed, as per the one advertised, which ranges from 12 fps to 24 fps. If you have access to a stroboscope, you can calibrate the speed control so that you can project accurately at any speed between the two. Many film references on the IMDb website state the speed preferred for some films, especially the silent ones, and not all are supposed to run at the recognised 16 fps!!! This is a really useful feature with these models.

If you like the idea of one of these machines - go for it. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. A reliable machine reflecting the engineering skill of yesteryear.

--------------------
Dave.

Valves and celluloid - a great combination!
Early technology rules OK!

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Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 21, 2009 04:44 AM

Yeah, thanks everybody for your replies.

It seems like they need a lot of maintenance and maybe a bit of overhauling to start with.

As I'm far from technically inclined, these, as nice as they look may not be for me, I'm thinking.

-Mike

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