8mm Forum: Maltese cross movement

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Topic: Maltese cross movement

Martin Jones
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted September 03, 2008 06:17 AM

The Coronet B is well known as an example of a 9.5 mm camera that uses a Maltese Cross (or Star Cross) movement to drive a sprocket for pulldown. Does anyone know of any other camera, particularly 16 mm, that uses this method instead of a claw?

Martin Jones

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

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John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted September 10, 2008 03:07 PM

Never saw one in a camera, there is a good reason. The maltese cross movement is very long wearing and reliable, but it is not as steady as a claw and registration pin. In a projector it's ideal for long wear and easy on film.

It is a more expensive thing to build as well which is why they are only found on the more (most?) expensive of 16mm projectors such as the Eastman 25, several Italian machines, etc. Eiki finally offered on on the 6000 series xenon projector as a 6120 and even made a model 4120 (or at least two that I've seen). But they were a premium over and above the price of a standard 6100.

There was a spring loaded cog wheel that to the operator looked like a maltese cross but wasn't. I've seen on some very early JAN projectors. Again, not as steady or reliable as the claw movement.

John

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted September 11, 2008 05:02 AM

I think from memory both Bauer and Philips also offered maltese cross movements in their full sized professional 16mm projectors.

The Philips was a left side thread projector so it could be placed close to the back of a 35mm projector to save space and use the same projection port in some instances.

David

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John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted September 15, 2008 03:24 PM

The French Hortson was also a left thread maltese cross movement projector.

I can't think of any US projector other than the Eastman 25 series, however. There were many in Europe, however.

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