B & H lenses questions

[Martin Davey]

Dear Forum,

I have some questions on B&H 16mm machines. Are the lenses compatible between the TQI series (and variants) to the TQII and TQIIIs? I'm used to TQIII lenses and the last time I saw a TQI in person was in the last century. I sometimes see some strange lenses on Ebay with weird threads but I presume these belong to machines from the 1950s and further back.

Also are TQI (and variants) larger than later models in terms of overall physical size/ weight? Thanks

[Maurice Leakey]

Martin
The first answer is that they are compatible. The smaller barrel Bell & Howell lenses were used on the earlier wooden blimp models as you presume.
The second answer is that all the TQ series are more or less the same size, but the TQI is a trifle larger, but much heavier due to more transformers over the original non TQ models which had the mains voltage lamps which, of course, did not require a transformer.


Maurice

[Martin Davey]

Thanks Maurice. That takes me back to my secondary school observations which largely had TQ111s that could be easily moved by teachers. There was one TQ1 that sat in one classroom and just used by the one teacher. You could tell how heavy it was by his face when he came to move it!

[Maurice Leakey]

Yes, of course, Martin, this is why the TQI was supplanted by the TQII which was easier to handle, not easy to service though, as its transistor amplifier was spread about in various sections.

The TQIII quickly followed, a far better designed projector. Much improved later by the use of the ELC lamp.

There is, of course, what you might describe as a TQIIII, although Bell & Howell called it a TQM. A slightly simplified TQIII, a single tone control, and the two-level light switch at the rear, not, as usual, combined on the main rotary switch.


https://www.van-eck.net/img/itable/i...6322780757.jpg



Maurice