Help Identify this Projector (and how do I open it?)

[Simon Silk]

A friend found this piece of equipment below in a box of family items.












After posting on an antiques site, I was advised it was likely an 8mm projector, and it was suggested I ask about it on a dedicated film projector site, so here I am.

FYI, ignore the VC-60 cassette in one photo. There were a bunch in the box so I initially thought they were related, but they were just a red herring.

Here are my observations (written before I realized it was likely a film projector):

• It's a while metal box divided in half by a black metal center section which has a carry handle up top.
• The bottom is black metal with three feet, two of which are adjustable, allowing the unit to be leveled.
• It's 245mm tall at the top of the handle, 300mm long, and 160mm wide.
• It weighs just over 6kg.
• There are two knobs on the outside: one at one of the ends in the black metal, and one in the middle of one of the white side panels. The one at the end is shiny silver and turns freely indefinitely in both directions with a medium smooth resistance and without unwinding (i.e. it doesn't extend outward while turning). The knob in the middle of the wide panel is dull grey and very stiff. Possibly jammed/ gummed/ seized.
• One of the white halves of the case seems to be permanently attached to the black central part and carry handle, while the other is a little loose like it's intended to be removed.
• The non-loose white side has two screws on top.
• There is a small very worn sticker on top of the handle. Photo included. Hard to read. Looks like maybe it says "PREWER TNLC".
• The item is currently located in Zambia but I don't know where it was purchased originally.
• There is an electrical socket on one side. It has two steel colored prongs with slots through them. I assume the slots are for screwing them into place, not adjusting. There is a third pin, brass colored, at the top in the middle. I don't know if that serves an electrical purpose like grounding or is just a mechanical key to enforce correct polarity on the two larger prongs. The inside cavity of the plug is a rectangle about 26x16mm. There is a nearby flat-head screwdriver-actuated voltage setting knob allowing 100-240V.

Can anyone here tell me:
1. Is this indeed a film projector of some kind? (or at least likely to be?)
2. How is it intended to be opened?

Regarding the second question, I suspect the dull grey knob is holding the one loose side panel on. But I can only turn it about 90 degrees before it jams in either direction. I don't know if I just need to put some muscle into it to get it open, but I'm hoping someone can confirm the method for opening it before I do that and possibly damage it.

Thanks.

[Joerg Polzfusz]

The sticker most likely says „proved“.

[Joerg Polzfusz]

I would also assume that it’s a film projector. But it could also be a slide projector, an epidiascope, … . Of course, it could also be a sewing machine, some stationary tool (stationary driller, saw, grinder, …) or some device from a dentist, oculist or another doctor - despite having adjustable feet only on one side.

How to open it? No clue, sorry. Maybe those knobs belong to the opening mechanism?

[Maurice Leakey]

1) I would say it is a film projector.
2) The knob which you can turn in both directions is possibly the film inching knob
3) The socket with the two pins is probably the mains input socket
4) The large knob which only turns a small amount each way may be the locking knob for the side cover. One way to open. One way to lock.
5) The cover may need pulling outwards from the bottom when unlocked.

I think the key item is probably number 4.

I don't know the item, but hope that my suggestions may be prove fruitful.

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Could the sticker be some Japanese JCII/JMDC „passed“/„approved“-sticker that was once golden?
https://live.staticflickr.com/8359/8...5b207537a3.jpg

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Could this be a „Sankyo Super LM“ projector or similar?

[Douglas Meltzer]

Joerg, you might have just figured this out!

[Maurice Leakey]

Here is a pic of the Sankyo LM.
Definitely a possibility. Looks like the outside knob may connect to the inner item for locking the cover
sankyo (filmkorn.org)

[Simon Silk]

I looked at the picture of the Sankyo LM and it certainly has a resemblance. However, there are a few key differences.



The knob on this unit sits in the black strip that goes around the body, while on the Sankyo it sits next to that strip. The handle on this unit is rigid while the handle on the Sankyos I've found pictures of are that kind of springy strap handle that lays flat when not in use. And the top of this unit has a distinct stair step across the full depth of the unit.

As for the dull grey knob on the side, I've tried applying quite a lot of pressure to it but still can't get it to turn more than about 90 degrees. When I apply a lot of pressure to it, the loose cover that seems like it should be removable shifts slightly along the long axis of the machine, i.e. left or right in the image above, not straight out the way it seems it would have to move in order to come off fully. So I'm wondering if that knob has some unrelated purpose that's moving something inside that is just shuffling the cover slightly as a side effect. But if that's the case, then I'm left even more clueless as to how thing thing opens.

Thanks for all the input so far.

[Ed Gordon]

Unscrew the black knob and pull that side of the projector off. The silver knob is to lock the elevator post on the front of the projector.

Just a guess, but it definitely is a projector...

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Yes, the black knob is a good guess. But whether you‘ll have to unscrew it or only turn it 90° or 180° (counter?)clockwise is unknown. In any case, I would assume that it was once lubricated but that the grease turned into stone over the last decades.

[Simon Silk]

Yes, the black knob is a good guess. But whether you‘ll have to unscrew it or only turn it 90° or 180° (counter?)clockwise is unknown. In any case, I would assume that it was once lubricated but that the grease turned into stone over the last decades.

Yes, I'm about 90% sure the black knob is retaining the side removable panel, but exactly how is unclear. The fact that it only turns about 90 deg makes me think it might be the latter style you mention, i.e. it's supposed to rotate some internal retainer bar to an open position. That would also seem to jive with the fact that, in this non-functional state, it's instead just shifting the panel side to side a small amount rather than releasing it. I also wonder, if it is something like a retaining bar that needs to rotate to an open position, is it possible some loose component inside like a stored power cord has jammed it?

In either case, I'm at a loss as to what to do next.

One option is get some vice-grip type plyers, wrap the knob in cloth, grab it with those, and try cranking it harder. I worry that will just snap it off.

I also see a handful of small screws here and there on the outside (visible in the pictures above). I suppose I could take some of those off and see if the whole thing comes apart them. But I worry that rather than release the outer covering panels, that will leave the outer casing intact and release inner parts from the casing making a mess inside.

[Maurice Leakey]

Is there any way that a small thin object could ease the cover off?
I would think that the small screws probably secure the back panel.

[Jason Moffatt]

The two cassettes in the picture are very early video cassettes for the philips N1500/N1700 players and date from the 1970s and pre date VHS & betamax. It would be interesting to know what recordings are on them but good luck finding a working player.

[Simon Silk]

Is there any way that a small thin object could ease the cover off?
I would think that the small screws probably secure the back panel.

Good question. I'll have another look at that this wknd. Thanks for the tip.