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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: VICTORIA 9
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Dick Twentyman
Film Handler
Posts: 21
From: Highton, Victoria, Australia,
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 02-01-2005 03:02 AM
In response to Andrew's request for information about the Vic 9, I have worked on two of these machines in a changeover configuration at a local seaside cinema which only operates for 4 weeks over the Summer break. The machines sit idle for the rest of the year - what a waste!
These particular machines are equipped with 2K Cinemeccanica horizontal lamphouse, and have capacity for 13,000 ft. spools. There is also motorised, on-machine rewind using a manually engaged clutch to couple the upper spool plate shaft with a separate motor via a vee belt.
The annoying thing about this arrangement is that the lower spool shaft is 1/2" diameter, but the upper shaft can be fairly easily replaced with a 5/16" for small centre reels. This means that film must always be rewound on the machine after screening if it is to be sent back to the exchange on the reels it originally came on.
The take-up consists of a weight compensated clutch, driven by a toothed belt, and is very prone to suddenly taking off at startup if 6000 ft. spools are used instead of 13,000 ft. The hold-back tension on the upper spool shaft is a combination of the old oiled-felt-pad, plus an oil filled dashpot connected to the clutch backplate by a steel wire. This arrangement means that film can only leave from the front of the supply reel. That is, emulsion-in wind is the rule.
After sitting idle for much of the year, a complete oil change is needed before the machines are put into service for the holiday season, as they take an age to crank up to speed.
Not much ever seems to go wrong with them. Otherwise, I can't tell you much more.
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John Walsh
Film God
Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 02-01-2005 07:46 AM
I am also a big fan of the Cinemeccanica V9. I'm sorry they stopped making it, but I can understand the market can't justify the cost of three models (V5, V8's are still made.) Although the V5 is pretty good, I wish they discontinued it and kept the V9.
It is a very 'open' machine; easy to thread and clean. Two years or so ago they made a curved gate which improved it more, although I have never actually used one with the curved gate. I felt it was/is a very reliable projector, however when it does need service, it can be more complicated to fix then your standard Century/Simplex.
The four I used were made in 1975. The turrets on them (3-lens with swing-away) are one of the very few I have seen on any projector that actually 'work.' They have nice X-Y barrel location adjustments, and index to the exact same location every time.
The only real problem I had was with the zipper/dowser shutter. It would open so fast and hard that the two rivets holding the round shield would shear once every 2-3 years. You can't just replace the rivets with screws, because the (rotating) shutter is so close, it would hit the head (or nut) on the screw.
I have heard of V9's being fitted to project 70mm film, but I've never actually seen this. The intermittent is the same as used in the V8, and with the all-gear drive, I would think it would be OK with 70mm.
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