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Author Topic: Simplex XL Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-17-2005 12:20 PM                        I think I was reading something in the tips section about changeovers and it was talking about a projector called the Simplex XL, and said that it was now currently manufactured by Ballantyne as the PRO 35. One of Winnipeg's now demolished palaces (The Capitol Theatre- there will be a picture page for it coming soon) had this projector, and as far as I understand, it had as really great presentation. My questions are: Is the Simplex XL really the Pro 35 now? What kind of features did it offer? Overall, what did you think of this (if you've worked with it)? Thanks everyone!  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-17-2005 01:18 PM                     quote: Andrew McCrea Is the Simplex XL really the Pro 35 now? Hell, NO. The Simplex XL is now known as the PR-1014 (aka Simplex 35), and is basically the same machine as the 'XL' that was introduced in 1949. The Ballantyne PRO-35 (introduced ca. 1970) is also still being made now as well, and is a totally different machine. quote: Andrew McCrea What kind of features did it offer? There are several variations on the XL mechanism, mostly the addition of turrets or specialized gate/trap assemblies; the gear train is for all intents and purposes the same between all of them. The up-and-coming 'replacement' for the 1014 is the all new Apogee machine. Click Here for the Simplex PR1014 Manual to see the features Click Here for the PRO-35 manual so you can see the difference quote: Andrew McCrea Overall, what did you think of this (if you've worked with it)? The Simplex XL/35/1014/1015/1050 are one of the best 35mm machines I have ever used. The Ballantyne PRO-35 is a pile of junk, IMO. As always, YMMV, and I am sure that others will have differing opinions to mine. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Jon Miller Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 973 From: San Diego, CA, USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-17-2005 01:24 PM                     Aaron beat me to the punch on the X-L history... The X-L was the first head to feature a conical shutter, designed for light efficiency. It was also the first Simplex to feature a full-time oil-spray lubrication system, both a great idea (for long gear train life) and its Achilles' heel (a reputation for leaking oil). I installed an X-L head in my home setup almost a year ago. It's a smooth-running machine I really like overall except that threading the film trap is somewhat awkward compared to the Simplex E-7 the X-L replaced. One other thing...originally, the machine leaked oil out the main drive gear seal like there was no tomorrow (in fact, I christened the machine the Simplex Valdez because of that); installation of a seal kit with an updated drive gear stopped the leaks cold and allowed more oil to be added to improve lubrication (thanks, Mark G. for the suggestion! ).  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-17-2005 01:51 PM                     quote: Aaron Sisemore The Ballantyne PRO-35 is a pile of junk, IMO ..lol - more like a POS! Yet, if you thread a PRO-35 correctly,they can be alright, but that dowser assembly for the 35 being held up with that selinoid contraption, plus that coupling device for the intermittent, sucks the big one. -Monte  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-17-2005 06:48 PM                     Actually I don't like either that well but if I had to choose the Ballantyne would win if it had all the updates and upgrades done to it. At that point its really a very good projector capable if extremnely steady pictures. Mark  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-17-2005 08:12 PM                        Thanks for all the tips. I downloaded the PRO 35 manual this morning before making that post, as well as the Simplex XL the other day, but could not find similarities: "Simplex XL (a.k.a. Pro 35, a currently manufactured model)" I printed the Simplex 1014 manual a few years ago for some reading material. Yes, I am weird.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-17-2005 08:26 PM                     properly operated and cared for the pro35 is a very good and reliable machine the only ones that have issues are one that have been abused by people who operate and modify them forgetting that in some vague possibility the orignal design engineer new something of what he was doing (this is true of most equipment)  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 01-17-2005 08:51 PM                  quote: Andrew McCrea I printed the Simplex 1014 manual a few years ago for some reading material. Yes, I am weird. Holy smokes Andrew, I'd hate to think what you must think of me then! I REALLY enjoy snuggling up on the sofa under a blanket in front of the fireplace with a raging fire on a cold, rainy night and reading an equipment manual. Always remember, knowledge is power. Ummmmm so is money, but that's another thread...  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-17-2005 10:44 PM                    Don't let his nerd/techie ways seduce you, Andrew. Stay far, far away from Phil. As Homer said to Bart, "You'll thank me on your wedding night."  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-17-2005 10:58 PM                     Money = Power : Knowledge = Money :: Knowldege = Power. Assuming that your goal in life is to be a technician of some sort, whether it's a projector technician or not, you'd be weird if you WEREN'T reading manuals! Being able to read a manual, understand what it says and take action based on what you have read is a VERY important skill to have. It's not like reading an ordinary book. You have to be able to understand technical terms which, many times, leave little/no room for interpretation. This is often just the OPPOSITE of what you do when you read literature. Asking questions is the second skill you should develop. It's important, not because you simply get answers to your questions. The REAL benefit to asking questions is that you learn how to take what knowledge you DO have, reformulate it into a question and communicate it to sombody else in a coherrent manner. These are both skills that fewer and fewer people seem to be developing these days. By simply starting this thread and asking the question, you demonstrate that you have the potential to be far ahead of others in your peer group in terms of technical skills. Keep it up and you have the potential to go far!  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-17-2005 11:36 PM                     quote: Andrew McCrea "Simplex XL (a.k.a. Pro 35, a currently manufactured model)" No the XL is NOT the Pro 35. Didn't we just cover this in post #2? -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 01-17-2005 11:51 PM                  Hey Andrew... pay NO attention to what Steve says... he's just bitter cuz I hogged the blanket when we were reading manuals together!  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-18-2005 12:52 AM                     quote: Phil Hill on a cold, rainy night and reading an equipment manual. ...shoot, This is how I began to learn on all of this tekkie fix-it stuff when I began this crazy field 35yrs ago: cuddling up to a warm space heater in a cold drive-in booth reading and studying Motiograph and Ashcraft manuals between reel changeovers, when we would run the last few weeks in the autumn. Then, when I finally moved into the "hardtop" world of the theatre palaces, once again, cuddling up to a warm corner's heater when the theatre's heating system would fail at times, reading and studying up on all of the Simplexes and Peerless Magnarcs that I would run - from Supers to XL's, Western Electric 206B's, Motiograph 7500's, SH-1000's..and what have you -- with a few Motiograph, Simnplex amplifier manuals on the side. No one showed me jack....learned this stuff on my own by "studying" the manuals... lotsa fun - Monte  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-18-2005 02:06 AM                       I agree. Much is in the manuals, if only more people would read them. I like Phil's approach... next to the fire. Hee-hee, there was a time when I would've done that!  |  IP: Logged Andrew McCrea Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 645 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-18-2005 11:20 AM                        Aaron, that was an exact quote from this document (4.1.1 Projector/Lamphouse) BTW, I downloaded it for some *light* reading material... I usually read the lamphouse manuals over and over.  |  IP: Logged

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