Posted by Ken Layton on September 23, 2003 at 23:15:08:
In Reply to: Bell & Howell 'Filmoarc' 1937 16mm sound cinema projector posted by William on September 23, 2003 at 21:39:17:
This projector was in production for a long time from approx 1936 all the way thru 1960. There were several model versions and there is usually a suffix letter after the model number or design number like 140-A, 140-B, 140-U, etc.
It was made with three different style pedestal bases over the years. There's a version with 'tripod' (telescoping) legs, a version with 'roll-around' wheels on a framework that resembles a big shopping cart, and finally there's a version with a real theater-like cast iron base made for permanent installations in a projection booth.
A complete machine would consist of the pedestal base (with lamphouse support table), seperate Bell & Howell amplifier, carbon arc lamphouse (which was actually made by Strong Electric for B&H), a rectifier (power supply) to run the lamphouse, projector/soundhead, and upper & lower reel arms. These machines burn "Pearlex" carbons by Union Carbide (no longer manufactured). If your machine is indeed as complete as what I've described then you should have no trouble asking $500 to $1,000 for it. Also, the manuals for this machine are available on a cd rom at www.film-center.com where they also have many 16mm projector experts there on the discussion forums to help you out.