Looking back

[Graham Ritchie]

Its interesting at least for me, to watch something like this. Although the person on the flight its nostalgia, and that's really great. The first word that came to my mind was "Corrosion" and lots of it on the 146 Aircraft that Ansett New Zealand used , they were really bad. Another joy to watch for me in this video, was the flap operation. I remember a couple of us had the job of fitting them, as we were all new, it was a learning curve straight from the manual. Anyway as neither of us had a company approval to use a forklift, we decided to give it a go. After trying out the controls of the forklift, oft we went. It took four of us to fit them both, they were large and very heavy, so I had to be "super careful" on the forklift. After about 2 hours we had them fitted and rigged ready for testing. Ansett were a good company to work for I should add. I also was asked to help one of the guys to rig the ailerons. The person I was helping had spent 4 hours reading up. I also needed to have a quick read also, I said, right, how are you going to do it? he replied. I said "nope" just watch uncle haggis "me" and oft we went. Afternoon break he came to me and said, you are not bad for a old bugger ha ha, well you do learn something over the years ha ha. Well it went on its test flight and the report stated it was perfect , so there you have it, in life you are never through learning, anyway that's my thoughts anyway. They were good times and good people to work with.

[Graham Ritchie]

Came across this neat photo, only flew the 146 once, and that was when I and a few others were flown up to the headquarters to meet the CEO. I was told to find a suit and tie for that one. I must admit, even though they had problems with corrosion, the 146 was popular with the public and business people and very comfortable and quiet to fly in. The company did make some brilliant adds, fluffy the cat became a tv star in NZ.

[Graham Ritchie]

Me giving my daughter her first driving lesson she is now in her 30s and her driving still scares me Oh! this popped up remember Datsun?

[Graham Ritchie]

Gave the old Bauer U4 a run today, its been a while, as the Ernemann 2 gets all the use these daysI did come across some old photos today of the time I brought the Bauer home many moons ago, .

[Graham Ritchie]

Although I had got the Bauer running at the back of the garage, being exposed to the fresh air coming in, as we live not far from the sea. I noticed things were rusting up so decided to make a proper home for it. The projector itself came in handy to support things up as I built its new home

[Ed Gordon]

Gave the old Bauer U4 a run today, its been a while, as the Ernemann 2 gets all the use these days I did come across some old photos today of the time I brought the Bauer home many moons ago

I am a packrat of considerable talent, but you sir, put me to shame. How many projectors have you acquired? I have only managed to collect about eight projectors so far...

I must say the Bauer is an ugly box compared to your elegant Ernemann2. In my collection, the ones from the 1930's merit display in my home cinema, while the "newer" projectors are relegated to a closet in the guest bedroom.

[Steve Lee]

Hi Graham,
It's such a long time ago since I ran one of these projectors. Can you tell me does the Bauer have a 2x Speed one-blade rotating shutter.
Or have I got it confused with another machine.
Steve

[Graham Ritchie]

Ed
The best bet with the Bauer is to get a better lamp house, that Orcon was not very efficient in light output due to its poor design. In saying that the Bauer U4 ran a good 12 hours a day for 20 years except for Christmas day, the only day that we were closed, it had an amazing run from what was a second hand projector from the US 20 years prior.

I did submit a written report before it was announced the cinema was closing, and that was to replace both the Bauer and Simplex with new Kinoton projectors, had 35mm continued. Kinoton made excellent machines, that would have lasted for many years, but it was not to be. I liked the Bauer, it was the only surviving Bauer U4 projector out of the original three at the cinema. The Ernemann 2, well that's in a class of its own, due to its age, plus its a real joy to run as its almost 100 years old.

Steve

You are right it has a one blade rotating shutter, here is a picture of a spare one. One thing I found out with those shutters is to keep them really clean, as if they get out of balance even a little bit, that extra vibration can effect the sharpness a little bit can be transmitted to the focus on the screen.

When I got the Projector in its new home I did a short video of it running

[Steve Lee]

Thanks Graham,
It is reassuring to know that my memory hasn't gone yet. I seem to also remember that these machines have a unique sound to them when they are running.
Due to the airflow around the shutter, its almost like a high frequency whistle.

I also agree with you when it comes to kinoton. They produced some of the finest machines in the business. Run a Kinoton that has been well maintained and seviced, and you will see the most steadiest picture that's possible to project onto a screen.
Sady most of them weren't and were given such a bad reputation. I have heard them referred to so many times as being no more than, a "filing cabinet with sprockets".
But they were a lot more than that. German engineering at its finest.

[Graham Ritchie]

The only time in 10 years at the cinema I ever ran the wrong film, and it was deliberate move on my part, was this one. Its been 20 years hard to believe, but at the time I had just made up the very first 35mm print Pirates Of The Caribbean "The Black Pearl" for its NZ release in a few days time. We had at the time a "Intermediate Schools" booking, that's 11 to 12 year old's around 200 coming to watch some "G" rated cartoon the school had booked for the end of school term, can't remember the name. I had the projector all threaded up and ready to go, when the manager on her way to her office came through and told me that the kids arriving, did not seem that interested in the booked cartoon. After she left I had this strange feeling come over me mmmm why don't I change the program and put something on that's more interesting. What better than having Pirates and Johnny Depp, so at the last minute I unthreaded the cartoon and threaded up Pirates instead. As there were no ads or trailers it was straight into the film. Up to this point this title had not been shown anywhere in NZ, no test screening nothing.

So the lights went down and the 200 kids got a bit of a surprise its certainly not what they expected, cranked up the Digital sound and away we went. The screen scene in my book that sealed it with those kids, was this one below, as soon as he stepped of his sinking boat onto the pier, that did it. Just as the end credits started to come up I went down stairs and opened the doors, to my surprise many were clapping. Thinking I am going to get into trouble for doing this, I hid down at cinema three platter. Shortly after, the manager came into the projection room, called out my name...GRAHAM...I replied YES she said they enjoyed that one and left. I never did that again, but for those 200, 11 to 12 year old's it certainly was a treat..

Ah memories, still can't get over its now been 20 years

[Graham Ritchie]

Fancy a cruise in about 3 months time it will be now 50 years since I boarded this old tub to NZ, at a cost to the NZ taxpayer $320 for a 12000 mile one way ticket. I later did a North Bound trip from Auckland to Southampton to visit my parents in November 1974, that cost $462 which included a oil surcharge. Not a bad price when you consider it included meals, which I should add were very good.

The old Australis was nothing like what you might get on a modern passenger ship, but this old tub was a lot of fun, except when she rolled around in force 10.

[Graham Ritchie]

One thing about looking back, was the work put into my GS1200 over the last 26 years, yikes have I had it that long. I bought it second hand around 1995-96, cant remember exactly and still use it as my main Super 8 projector. From making my own two bladed shutter, modify the guides, moving the lamp back as Thomas suggested, cleaning the take up and rewind motors, plus a few other things, its lasted well. However the GS1200 is a projector that you need to do a bit of your fixing otherwise its best to buy a ST1200 "more reliable" .

Ah memories

[David Roberts]

Graham,
your piece on the 146 aircraft is interesting.I volunteer at Duxford Aviation Society and we recently received the 146 used by the Queens flight,to put on display,along with the other old British airliners,including the pre production Concorde.
This 146 was used by the Queen,so is rather special inside,with lots of walnut and only a few seats,two of which are more elaborate than the others. These were the ones reserved for the Queen and Prince Philip.

[Steve Lee]

Hi Graham,
Would you be able to tell us how you were able to produce the bottom tension roller on your GS. I am now regretting lending Edwin the one out of my machine, as it is now nearly two years that my GS has sat here totally unusable. I would love to get it up and running before it's too late.
Steve.

[Ken Finch]

Hi Graham. Following on from what David Roberts has posted, you may be interested to know that for many years the Projected Picture Trust had a base at Duxford and ran the Astra R A F cinema for them, having restored it to working order. They moved most of their base out but have recently refurbished the cinema equipment there. I have visited there a couple of times in the past. The cinema was equipped to show both 35 and 16mm. I remember being particularly interested in the 16mm machine as it was the Arc lamp version of the Debrie D16. The Cinetechnic Debrie D16 was the brand chosen by the R.A.F. And I believe the Royal Navy for their base and mobile cinemas. The Army portable and base cinemas tended to use the 35mm G. B. N. And the 16mm G.B.L516. Hence so many turned up in government surplus stores! I vaguely remember that the static 35mm projectors in the Astra. Cinemas were Ross but I may be wrong on this point. After all it is quite a long time ago, and I have never been a professional cinema projectionist. Ken Finch.😉