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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Wenzel Projectors
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Geoff Bradley
Film Handler
Posts: 12
From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-29-2001 11:07 PM
My Film-Tech collegues, Well, enough lurking. I enjoy the valuable information and chat from all of you and decided it was time to speak.Just came across some old manuals for Simplex regular projector, Peerless Magnarc and the Wenzel Ace Pro 4 Projector. I was lucky enough to grab them before they were buried in the ground at an abandoned drive-in. These babies are now in their new home......mine. Would anyone have any information on Wenzel? I believe they were in Chicago. Also, thanks to Greg M. for the advice. Hurley came through and a new screen will soon be mine. Thanks and regards.
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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man
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Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-30-2001 12:24 AM
It was my understanding that a Wenzel projector was supposed to have incorporated the good points of a Simplex Super, and a mixture of some other off-the-wall crap. (that's what I have heard, anyway.) Some old timers told me they were a very good projector. I have seen a few, but never operated them. I'll bet Gordon, John, or Mark can tell all about them. They kinda look like Super Simplex.
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John Eickhof
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 588
From: Wendell, ID USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 04-30-2001 12:34 AM
Fred A Wenzel was a machinist at Simplex in the 20s. He broke away and formed his own company called the Wenzel Projector Company in Chicago in the early 30s. The Wenzel 'ACE' projector was a carbon copy of the Simplex Regular (Standard) Fred developed many variations on his machine, like the model BW that was made for Ballantyne. It was an ACE with a couple of heavier bearing surfaces and a different film side door that had the Ballantyne logo. The Pro 4 was a mid 50s model still basically the ACE model but with easier oiling, and an easy to remove film trap door and an optional 4" lens holder.\ Wenzel developed the model 6 'ACE' in 1958 that had a conical shutter like the Simplex XL and other new improvements, but it was never mass made, as Edw. H. Wolk Co., Inc. purchased the Wenzel Company in 1958 after Fred Wenzel took ill. Wenzel made a couple of soundheads too, as well as repair parts for the Simplex machine, and many specialty repair tools for the projector repairman, such as intermittent run-in holders, sprocket pullers, and taper pin reamers. Of course Wenzel made a pedistal and other projection accessories. In a simular light, Sam Kaplan was a machinist too at Simplex in the 20s, he too formed his own operation in the 30s known as Kaplan 'Sure-Fit' Projectors & parts. (Also a copy of the Simplex Regular) Kaplan went onto form the Century Projector Company and with the help of Larry Little developed the famous Century C model in the 40s.
------------------ John Eickhof President, Chief Slave Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc. P.O.Box 258 Wendell, ID. 83355-0258 208-536-5489 email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man
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Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-30-2001 12:55 AM
Hey, John. Thanks for the write-up on the Wenzel.Now, I have one for you - can you tell us all about the Weber Synchro-film Sound head? I ran those things in the Skagit Drive-In in Burlington, WA in 1973 until it closed. It was not too bad of a sound head, except for those funky PE cells that I replaced with a wooden dowell (small broom stick handle) with a Radio Smack solar chip glued to it. They were not too bad. I understand that was an export model of a Western Electric soundhead, but I don't know what model. I might add this: One of those soundheads, I had to make a gear with a hacksaw and a file to finish the season, since there were no parts available for it. Whatever it was, it had steel balls in the rotary stabilizer, (which took forever to come up to speed) and they were very smooth when it came to wow and flutter. It was a chain driven soundhead. Speak, O Toothless Soothsayer.. LOL (just had to do that, John.) ![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/biggrin.gif)
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Geoff Bradley
Film Handler
Posts: 12
From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-30-2001 08:26 PM
Thanks John and Paul. Much appreciated. There are some parts missing off the lens holder and collar but not too much else.Dave , they came from the Crystal Lake Drive-in near Canora Saskatchewan. This is my lucky day indeed. I just hauled another pair out of the Unity Drive-in. Same projectors though. Northern Electric Soundheads and a pair of really nasty and heavy rectifiers. 4 flat lenses and 4 scope. Thanks everyone.
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