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The Simplex SPS portable does have a Zipper picture changeover mounted on the unit. Mine was once paired with another SPS in a college auditorium.

As far as the soundhead goes, it is not marked with RCA. The components of the sound pick-up are all contained in the same large black cabinet that contains the projector mechanism. It is not a separate unit like we usually see with a permanently installed cinema projector.

Here's a long shot, but might be worth trying. ICECO in FL is known to sell Simplex and other portables.
http://www.iceco.com

Maybe by chance they might have one.
I'll keep my eyes open.

--Chris

Good idea! I'll give them a call.

I have a copy of the SPS manual and I would be glad to share it if I could figure out how to enter it into the manual section of Film-Tech. Could one of you please explain the procedure and while your at it, I could also use a little help in reprinting what is already there. Thanks,

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Thanks for making your Simplex SPS manual available for Brad to add to the Manuals section. I'm anxious to download the info and put it to use.

You're right about the SPS being a "400 pound portable." At least it SEEMS like it weighs that much!

I'll have to look at my machine when I get home tonight to be sure I correctly describe how the framing mechanism on it works. I'm a little vague on how one aspect of the mechanism operates and since it's not close by I'll have to check it out tonight. I'll post a description to this thread, probably tomorrow morning, so that we can compare notes. I don't know if there are different versions of the SPS. I do know that they were available with both arc lamps and mazda lamps. Mine has the 1,000 watt mazda lamp. I bet the framing mechanisms on them were probably the same.

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I agree that electrocuted cats and ash on the household furnishings are indeed a small price to pay to get great light on the screen from your arc lamps! (Notice - No animals were actually harmed during this educational on-line discussion)

I took a close look at my Simplex portable last night to make sure I am certain how the framing mechanism operates. Here goes...

On my version of the SP there is a module which basically consists of two oil resevoirs, the upper feed sprocket and the intermittant sprocket. One oil resevoir is for the intermittant and one is for the internal workings of the upper sprocket. Each has a sight glass to let the operator determine oil levels.

The entire module is suspended from a rack that extends out to about the end of the lens collar. The framing knob, located on the operating side near the lens collar, is attached to a shaft that has a gear located about midway. The gear teeth mesh with teeth on the bottom of the rack that the intermittant/feed sprocket mechanism module is attached to. Therefore, when one turns the knob, the gear works with the teeth on the bottom of the rack to move the module either forward or backward. Since the upper sprocket and the intermittant are part of the module, when one moves the module the film is moved either up or down in the film path, depending on which way you turn the knob.

The framing mechanism on my SP was very stiff when I first got it. I don't know when it was used last prior to the time that I bought it but I believe that it had been in storage for awhile before I found it at a cinema supply company's warehouse. Once I got it home I put a little projector oil on the gear and gently nudged it a bit until it freed up. Now it works very smoothly.

Does your SPS also have a film gate that resembles that found on a manual thread 16mm portable? After working with Simplex Supers and XL's I was suprised when I saw the different type of gate on my SP. It works great through.

In answer to your question about the gate on my SPS, the answer is "yes, sort of". It is really a strange two step movement. First the lens swings and the gate swings. Kind of a product of a 3 Martini lunch.

I'll get that manual photocopied this weekend and sent to Brad first this coming week. Hope it is very helpful.

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