I have several stereo prints, and trailers. Also I have plenty of time on my hands to experiment.

What do you folks think?

Bruce

I've never worked with a Holmes, but if you call your local cinema parts supply dealer they might have an actual solar cell and bracket assembly for around $100-150 you could just pop in and then do an A-chain on. Better yet, if you can afford it, go with a reverse scanning LED kit. Although I doubt Kelmar or Component Engineering has gotten to the Holmes projector kits yet.

The $100-150 kit would be well worth your time and frustration in trying to figure out how to home make a stereo pickup.

 |  IP: Logged

I started wondering about this when I ran my first stereo print on the Holmes. It sounded like I was hearing an out of phase recording. When I adjusted the solar cell position more to the center between the 2 tracks, I noticed how the fidelity changed for the better.

This machine was in pieces when I got it. I found that I could use an 1156 auto lamp, and a 12v DC supply for the exciter. I have run about 30 hours of film on it without blowing a lamp. The DC supply handles the hum in the filament perfectly. The solar cell came from a junked Eiki 16 machine.

I used an SMPTE audio test film that I found on the net to focus the optics. Having good results so far.

There's more than enough room for 2 cells installed side by side. Is the left channel on the sprocket side of the soundtrack?

Is it obvious that I am on a major "restricted" budget? I am the owner of a 250 watt tube power amp that is in Newport News, VA, but I have no way to get it here to western NC except to drive 7 hours. My job requires too much time for a trip...

I appreciate your sharing of knowledge and your help. Now, if I had 2 running Holmes... Just a dream for now.

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

You can get the solar cell unit ( with a bracket, though as others have said I doubt you'll find one that will drop-in to a Holmes) from any cinema equipment dealer. Another point to consider is that these cells will be going to be positioned close ( within about 1mm) to the film so the cells-in-an-old-phototube-socket trick won't really work (the cells themselves are quite small). You might have to get a different slit lens for your soundhead if yours has a large slit in it. The ones with smaller slit sizes give MUCH better sound quality. You will need a basic set of Dolby test films to get the alignment spot-on as well ( you can 'wing it' for this but I have found that to get it truly right the first time, the test films are necessary. These films are also available from a cinema dealer.) Good Luck!

Aaron

 |  IP: Logged

Send me your mailing address to my private email at Flix@film-tech.com and I will ship you the cell. Hope you can make it work. Be sure and let us know here what you find. There may be someone else out there who will want to do the same thing with another Holmes!

I figured out the wiring fast enough. But, I mayhave to go with the twin cells installed inside the old PEC enclosure similar to what I have now.

I would like to thank Brad Miller for sending this cell assembly to me. I will keep thinking about how I can do this using this cell. Right now, all I can come up with is the 2nd cell beside the one I have. I need to ask one more time: Is the left channel on the left side of the soundtrack on the sprocket hole side?

More News to Come, if anybody is still interested...
Bruce McGee

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged