8mm Forum: Old Stuff

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Topic: Old Stuff

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 26, 2007 03:08 PM

After making the rash statment on a previous post on the GS1200 "that nothing lasts forever" [Roll Eyes]

I was reminded this week that some things do, and for that I will have to eat my words, munch..munch...munch... well here is a photo of the sound head that I use on the Ernemann 2 35mm projector.

The amazing thing about it, is that this "Fisher" sound head was made here in NZ in the late 1920s its of basic construction and was first used when silent projectors were converted to sound, a quick mention here to thank fellow forum member Pat for this information, whats even more interesting, is that last week I ran a reel from Star Wars Episode 1 which included "The Pod Race" the sound although only mono it was better than most Super8 and 16mm films I own, with The Yamaha amp I selected 7ch stereo and the active sub responds better to the 35mm input than much of my Super8, well who would have thought that after 80yrs this old sound head would still be working so well.

Graham. [Smile]

PS anyone else with stories of old projection equipment still going strong.

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Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted October 27, 2007 03:03 AM

Hi Graham
Thanks for the wee mention! [Wink]

After seeing your machine in action the other night I have not just managed to get a hold of a ERNEMANN II machine ( might be an extra soundhead for you!?...)
Here is a little something about the ERNEMANNs
The ''Ernemann'' projectors of Germany serviced commercial Cinema in New Zealand from the first decade of the 20th Century.

The "Ernemann 2" Model was first produced by "Zeiss Ikon" in Dresden, Germany in 1925.

Alf Mouldy, projectionist and later technical manager for J.C Williamson Films Limited, set up the first ''Ernemann 2's'' imported into New Zealand at the Regent Theatre in Wellington in March 1928.

The Last ''Ernemann 2's'' shipped into this country, were installed at the Vogue Theatre, Brooklyn (now the Penthouse) Wellington for it's opening in June 1939.

Origionally silent, this machine like all of the Ernemann IIs were converted to sound in the late 20s, early 30s, this projector has the NZ made "FISHER" brand soundhead attached.

With the introduction of "Cinemascope" films in the early 1950s the Ernemann IIs had to be modified to take the "Cinemascope lens" so they were converted from the front shutter to the drum type of shutter located behind the film gate.

Known as the "Workhorse" of cinema projection for their reliability, these ''Ernemann'' machines throught development, shaped and projected our screen image for over 90 years. ''Ernemann 2's'' are still in use in some New Zealand cinemas today.

Ernemann projectors are still made today, I think they are up to Ernemann 18s now??
Pat

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

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Barry Johnson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 358
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2003

posted October 27, 2007 08:03 AM

Wot!

no Red laser reader

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Standard8 rules!!

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 27, 2007 09:42 PM

Barry
Funny you should mention that, last week we tried a strong red LED in place of the white, the chap who made the pre-amp etc on the original sound set up, and is clued up on this stuff gave it a go, however no success so far, the cell would not pick anything up, [Roll Eyes]

but hopefully soon we will attack the problem again. I think I will write and complain to the film company's about there change to cyan soundtrack its very inconvenient. [Wink]

Graham.

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