Lytax 9.5mm Projector

[Donald Rankin]

Hi Guys,
I'm new to the forum and just purchased a Lytax projector k 34 and a heap of films, mostly home movies 1934-1943 Germany and France. Can't find much information on the actual projector. It's in the post coming to me now. Apparently it's in fantastic condition. Any information would be appreciated as this is all new to me. I believe it has not been turned on for 70 years.

[Ken Finch]

It does look to be in very good condition. Obviously made in Germany. It appears to be intermittent sprocket drive instead of the more common claws. Either Maltese or Geneva cross mechanics as used on 35mm cinema projectors.

[Donald Rankin]

Looks like everyone is stumped on this projector.

Does anyone know what happened to the company that made Lytax projectors? Can't find anything online, maybe ww2 was the end of them!

[Dominique De Bast]

Obviously made in Germany.

yes, I found that this company was based in Freiburg (Projecteur de film 16 mm (CNC-AP-96-241) - Collection - Catalogue des appareils cinématographiques - La Cinémathèque française (cinematheque.fr))

Other pictures of one of their 16mm projectors : Fantastic 16 mm Lytax Klangton Projector, Germany. 1930's. Original Box (antiguedades.es)

A sound (16mm) model : Lytax 16mm sound film projector - Catawiki

[Juergen Kellermann]

The projector in the second link is missing the intermittent and the gate, i.e. it is not in working order. Only usable as a display item.

Quite rare in 16mm, and probably even rarer in 9.5mm.

Lossau's projector book lists a Lytax model K33 for 16mm, 9.5mm and 8mm, with 1933 as manufacturing date. He does not list model K34.

[Donald Rankin]

Thank you for the information provided.

[Donald Rankin]

Ok, I have set up the projector and found out the motor on it has had the wires cut off. Good news is the bulb works. Not to be put off, I managed to manually put the film through the projector and can turn the handle to view film.

My question to my learned friends is, how does anyone watch a film when the gaps in the center of each shot shows. Am I missing something?

[Dominique De Bast]

how does anyone watch a film when the gaps in the center of each shot shows. Am I missing something?

Glad you could run the projector, Donald. If you mean that the central perforation is visible on the screen, that means you need to adjust the framer.

[Donald Rankin]

Thanks Dominique, just got work out what the framer is now

[Dominique De Bast]

Usually, there are two systems to adjust the frame : a kind of mask that goes up and down in front of the gate, or a mechanism that moves (also up and down) the lens. To move up and down, you need to find a little bar or a kind of screw.

[Donald Rankin]

Okay Dominique I'll have a look