Wow, never thought this would raise so much interest. the old arc light projectors were something to behold and the full reel of film took some TLC every time you handled it. The arch had to be set so precise and the spools wound at specific tensions it was totally amazing.
Phil, am certain it was the Savoy I worked at.
The spools were all rewound by hand - spool to spool - right hand winding and left holding the 35mm film, required a certain speed and pressure (friction burn when you think of the thickness of 35mm film and oh yeah it smarted)- too much of one or other and you would snap the celluoid so thus a splice which was simple in theory but much harder to execute splice.
Changing spools was any issue as always a minimum of 3 projectors and you watched the spool and at point marked on the reel you would watch the screen through the peep holes, and when a dot in the upper right hand corner, think it was like 60 secs and another would appear to warn to arch up the other projector, and a count down where you had to switch the projectors (shut down one and open the other). Ah even doing that @ 17 yrs of age I remember 43+ yrs later - so buzzed atm 🙂
Fossil Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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IGOR is ALIVE !!!! 😎
IGOR is ALIVE !!!! 😎
