8mm Forum: Book about all projectors ever made

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Topic: Book about all projectors ever made

Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted August 06, 2005 01:18 AM

Just noticed this eBay auction for a book (released through Atoll Medien in Germany, in both German and English languages) which features history and technical data on just about any movie projector ever made, from the earliest hand-crank models to late high-tech electronic machines - featuring all the brand names and some obscure ones. I was wondering if any of you already has this book and/or has ever read it? And what did you think about it?
I've been wanting to buy it but the price is a bit steep, especially in light of the fact that the other two books from the same author (about movie cameras and about splicers) are a lot cheaper. [Eek!]

Speaking of author, he's none other than Juergen Lossau from the German "schmalfilm" magazine. [Smile]

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted August 06, 2005 11:21 AM

Nice looking book. If you go to their website(www.atollmedien.de), they're selling the book at $119.00 with shipping--that a bit cheaper than the buy it now price on ebay with shipping. The Ebay book has a "dented corner" BTW. I checked my bookfinder search tools and the book came up at $179 so the price at the website and on ebay looks like a good buy.

The Movie Camera book is also $119.00 BUT the supplement if $49 and the Splicer book is I think $29. Perhaps that's what you were thinking were the cheaper books. But the full Movie Camera would consist of the mail volume plus the supplement.

I ordered from the publisher so the Ebay option is till open to whoever wants it, but check the publisher website as well.

John

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted August 06, 2005 12:51 PM

I didn't realize the camera book was in the same price range & came with a supplement, thanks for the info. [Smile]

But, do tell me more about your copy of the projector book! How complete is it? How are our favorite brands featured (Elmo, Bauer, etc.)? What did you like most/least about the book?

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted August 06, 2005 06:34 PM

[QUOTE] But, do tell me more about your copy of the projector book! [/QUOTE}

Jan,

I'll file a full review when I receive the book. I just ordered it from the publisher today after seeing your post. It looks like an excellent reference. I hope it covers a lot of the "early" projectors from Eiki, Elmo and Kodak, etc. But, I'll tell all when I get my copy (will probably take three or four weeks from Germany to California).

John

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted August 06, 2005 09:34 PM

I thought you'd ordered it a while ago and had already received it - my bad. [Smile]

Looking forward to your review, though!

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 06, 2005 10:45 PM

Jan & John,

I have a copy of this fine book and had intended to write a review but I find I barely have time these days to do the things I absolutely need to do much less the things I want to do. But enough of my time-management problems.........

I found the Atoll Medien site a while back and sent them an e-mail to which they never replied. I then asked Andreas to check them out and he managed to contact them. They said the book can be ordered from:
USA -> www.camerabooks.com
GB -> www.peterloy.com

I ordered a copy of "Movie Projectors: The Definitive Guide by Juergen Lossau" from the US site at the price of $149.00 with shipping. It arrived after two weeks.

This is a fascinating, well-researched study with 293 pages dedicated to the history of the major projector manufacturers and highlights many of their most important models. The remaining
190 pages are a catalog of approximately 2,800 projectors with columns listing the model numbers, formats, year that production started/ended, spool capacity, lens, lamp wattage, etc. There are over 1500 illustrations to accompany all this information. I'm sure there are a few models missing, but the pictures and overall abundance of information are truly astounding.
In addition to Super and Standard 8mm, the guide also covers 16mm and 9.5mm (and Polavision!). Mr. Lossau's text is well written, although he has a habit of jumping around chronologically. He'll start in 1948, jump to 1975 then go back to 1966, but it's worth following his narrative around. There are over 60 chapters, with each dedicated to a particular manufacturer. The brands we love, Elmo, Bolex-Paillard, Eumig, Bauer, Fumeo are all here along with many lesser known (to me) Russian, Hungarian, Polish and Chinese projectors. There is also a wonderful chapter on the history of film projectors in passenger airplanes.
My one criticism is in order to separate the guide from the catalog section, the decision was made to print one part upside down! You have to turn the book over if you're reading about Heurtier and then want to take a look in the catalog area to see a picture of their "Stereovox" model. The binding on my copy has already torn from a few of those maneuvers.

To sum up, this book is a valuable reference tool, an entertaining read and although expensive, well worth the cost.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted August 06, 2005 11:08 PM

Thanks, Doug, now I'm really on fire for this book. [Big Grin]

Just have to decide between buying it or going for a short-throw lens for my Eiki 16mm machine instead. [Eek!]

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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