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Author Topic: General Sound/Showman II Armin Pohl Film Handler Posts: 11 From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Registered: Mar 2001 posted 04-17-2001 06:15 AM                     I have a fairly old automation setup. The company that manufactured the automation box was General Sound. I believe they are out of business. I found a supplier for the mini lamps but I am need of the little coloured push buttons marked, RESET, STEP, TIMER, START, STOP, FAULT, SAFETY, ISOLATE. Can anyone help ??? Armin  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-17-2001 08:46 AM                     The pushbutton caps are available from ElectroSonic Inc on Gordon Baker Road Willowdale Ontario They are blank and you have to get them engraved. FYI The showman 2 is far from obsolete  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-14-2004 08:58 PM                 It has been 1184 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 07-14-2004 08:58 PM                        Are there any of the old Showman II automations floating around anywhere out there? There must be some if FAMOUS PLAYERS replaced most of them with CineQ. Is Cinemation still being made?  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-14-2004 11:02 PM                     Mr Bentley passed away this year and I beleive that there is a UK company that is continueing support for the current cinemation which is an electronic version I beleive the manufacturer of CineQ is out of business now or so the rumour goes  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 06-15-2005 04:06 PM                        Does anyone have pictures of the Showman II automation? Can anyone list features of it? Are there an floating around anywhere that are available for purchase?  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 06-15-2005 08:15 PM                     I can come up with a picture if nobody else has one. It's just a gray box, about 2 feet square and 8 inches deep, with the pegboard in the middle and a few switches and indicators. It's similar in features to other pegboard units. The cue button or sensor tape advances the pegboard array down one step, and you put diode pegs in the grid to activate functions - cues are rows and functions are columns. There's an electromechanical timer that allows for timed events like opening the dowser X seconds after the motor starts. The features are basically that it's simple, easily "programmed". and it uses good old relays and wires that anyone with a multimeter can troubleshoot - not a mystery board stuffed with mystery ICs. There are limitations too but it's pretty reliable and there are quite a few still running out there. The Showman is a descendant/copy of the Cinemation (I think) and was designed and built in Canada using standard N.A. parts and has (to me) easier setup and servicing compared to the UK one.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 06-16-2005 02:59 PM                       Oh, yes, they're definitely easier to get around inside than a Mk-IV.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 06-16-2005 09:07 PM                        Tim; the Entertainment Engineering automations are a direct descendant of the Showman 2. Louis  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 06-16-2005 09:53 PM                       Oh, yes, I remember that. And it's certainly the Cadillac. The E-E's are more reliable than the others, well-built, and roomier... with A/C and power steering optional!  |  IP: Logged Mike Babb Master Film Handler Posts: 250 From: Norwich UK Registered: Jul 2002 posted 06-16-2005 10:41 PM                        I think 8 Showman 2 got bulldozed in my old theatre after it closed, the company that owned it didn't want to re-use them. We had almost no problems in 17 years of operating them.  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 06-17-2005 01:19 PM                        Are the "E-E"s still built? Any contact information for this company? Anyone know if there's old Showman IIs available for purchase out there?  |  IP: Logged Andy Bergstrom Film Handler Posts: 44 From: St. Cloud, MN Registered: Feb 2000 posted 06-17-2005 01:33 PM                     Didn't Century also make an automation called "Showman"? I seem to recall operating them. They didn't have the pegboard/diode set-up. They were an all contained monitor/amplifier/failsafe kinda thing.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 06-21-2005 03:42 PM                        1. Yes, Century made a "Showman" around 1976. I made many a service call on them until we found the factory design errors. Then all was well. 2. Entertainment Engineering is the parent of Hadden Theatre Supply; 10201 Bunsen Way, Louisville, Ky 40299. tel 502--499-0050 (Yes these automations are still made but are quite pricey. Certain customers love them.) Louis  |  IP: Logged

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