Super 9.5 projector for sale

[Dominique De Bast]

Due to the rarity of such a machine, I post the link here. This gauge was a commercial failure so few projectors exist : https://www.ebay.fr/itm/156206208283

[Ken Finch]

I would suggest it did not sell well because of lack of demand for such a powerful machine as well as the lack of more modern films available. The situation may have been very different were it not for the war and lack of support from the major film producing companies to sell their productions. Home cinema enthusiasts could only hire 16mm prints until video came along and there was a market for their back catalogue on Super 8 at a more affordable price including what Pathe had been doing i e editing to shorter lengths.

[Joerg Polzfusz]

It simply didn’t sell well as it came too late. Everyone needing a wider aspect ratio (without using anamorphics) was already using Super16, 35mm-3perf or 35mm-2perf. And video also became better (and cheaper). Then add the lack of an official standard (SMPTE, ISO, …), the lack of labs and the uncertainty with the film-supply (as even „normal“ 9.5mm started to have problems back then)…

[Dominique De Bast]

It came indeed late to have enough people ready to invest in pricey new material (camera, projector, splicer, spools...). The filmstock, however didn't seem to be really a problem in the '90s

[Joerg Polzfusz]

BTW: Due to the non-standard aspect ratio, it wouldn’t have been possible to produce prints for this format.

[Dominique De Bast]

I believe it was intended to be a camera gauge.

[Rob Koeling]

I had never heard of Super 9.5 before....
Can you run a 'regular' 9.5 print through this machine?

[Dominique De Bast]

Can you run a 'regular' 9.5 print through this machine?

I don't think so.

There are interesting articles about 9.5, but unfortunately in French, so few members can understand them. I recommend to no-French speakers to have a quick look at this link as it has some pictures : Super-9.5mm-Objectif_9-5.pdf (lichtspiel.ch)

If you can read French (or want to do a Google translation : a summary of the story of the gauge :Le Super 9,5 ou le format nommé désir - Forum Projectionniste and the patent : WO1996008747A1 - Pellicules cinematographiques au format super 9,5 - Google Patents

[Joerg Polzfusz]

AFAIK this projector can only run the 11.6mm wide format. (35mm unperf’ed stock got split into 3 rows, then 9.5mm perforation holes got added. But the holes aren’t centered as their center is 4.75mm from one side and 6.85mm from the other side.)