Posts: 1269
From: Thetford , Norfolk,England
Registered: May 2008
posted September 13, 2008 10:00 AM
Am I just not seeing things right or are there actually different model numbers for B&H machines as sold in the USA and the UK? For example, US websites don't seem to carry any mention of 601, 631, 640 etc. Is there a list of equivelants anywhere? Martin
-------------------- Retired TV Service Engineer Ongoing interest in Telecine....
Posts: 1085
From: Doncaster, UK
Registered: Jun 2004
posted September 13, 2008 11:57 AM
In the USA, a few of the earlier models were totally different in appearance to the same UK ones. For example, the 655, had a very thin base, which didn't contain the amplifier, whereas the UK version had a thicker base with the amp inside. Model numbers varied; the 666 UK machine (utilising the MARC 300 lamp) was numbered 566 in the USA, and again, each USA machine looked different to the UK model.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted September 13, 2008 12:14 PM
This reply only refers to the wooden case "blimp" models. I cannot swear that it is completely accurate. but I've done my best!
Posts: 791
From: Northridge, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 15, 2008 03:27 PM
We're there some UK versions of the 302 with a transistorized amp? There was one USA 8399 which was the "specalist" version of the 385 which had a transistor amp and was actually made in Japan. I don't know if any of the 385 series machines in the UK were make in Japan but at some point B&H sent all the tooling to Japan for that line of projectors from Chicago. At one time the UK versions were make by Rank if memory serves me.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted September 16, 2008 02:29 AM
John
I have an 8636 (1975) which was made in Japan, it's AC/DC and multi-voltage. It's the blimp model, "Maritime".
It has a photo-diode sound pick-up and the amp is both transistors and valves. The sound is superb but the light isn't so good as it uses UK mains voltage lamps.
However, it runs well and I use it occasionally.
Bell & Howells were made in the UK up to the early sixties. They were made by Rank and when their licence ran out Rank turned to German Bauer for projectors which were badged "Rank Aldis".