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Author Topic: Westrex Tower Capacity w/36" reels Amanda Mundin Expert Film Handler Posts: 122 From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK Registered: Sep 2005 posted 10-02-2005 04:21 AM                     Hi Everyone I'm setting up a new cinema in the UK and have a Westrex double sided tower with 36inch reels, I believe these are about 13,000ft reels, I have heard that the capacity of reels are based on acetate stock and that since all new films are printed on polyester (thinner) stock you will actually fit more on a reel, any ideas what the max. capacity of one of these reels will be in feet or time? Thanks in advance...  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-02-2005 05:09 AM                     Amanda, hello and welcome to Film-Tech! Good choice on the Westrex 5035, they are easy enough to use, and indestructable. Contrary to popular belief, they do not damage film, if used correctly, follow the makers instructions and all will be well. As to spool capacity, it depends on the size of the centre hub, there are a few sizes in common use. The Cinemecannica type has the largest hub and therefore the smallest capacity, there are two types available from Rigby, I don't recall the sizes of the hubs offhand, but here's a rough guideline. On the smaller size we used to get the entirety of Pulp Fiction , plus ads and trailers, which is estar based, and came in at a total of about 160 minutes. That equates to 14400 feet.  |  IP: Logged Hugh McCullough Expert Film Handler Posts: 147 From: Old Coulsdon, Surrey, UK Registered: Jan 2003 posted 10-02-2005 06:16 AM                        It is possible to get up to 3 hours worth of film onto one of these spools, picture below, made for the Westrex tower. These have a diamater 2.5ins larger than the normal Westar spools. That is 37.5ins against 35ins. You will have to increase the take up starting tension by about 20, but when up to speed can be adjusted back to the normal settings that you use. They can be purchased from Robert Rigby.  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 10-02-2005 08:15 AM                        As I mentioned in the now infamous 'soldering iron' thread, the cost of Rigby stuff is into second mortgage territory. It might be worth checking whether Peter Hall has some secondhand ones first.  |  IP: Logged Michael Harlow Expert Film Handler Posts: 170 From: Faversham, Kent, UK Registered: Jul 2002 posted 10-02-2005 11:28 AM                     www.fproj.com. Peter Hall's website.  |  IP: Logged Amanda Mundin Expert Film Handler Posts: 122 From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK Registered: Sep 2005 posted 10-02-2005 03:05 PM                     I do have some reels, they are all 36inch, some seem to have an 8inch centre & some a 10inch centre, most say Premier on, some say Rigby. Also Pete how do you know the tower is a 5035, or is there only one model of Westrex double sided tower?  |  IP: Logged Alan Gouger Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 501 From: Bradenton, FL, USA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 10-02-2005 05:15 PM                        Anyone have a picture of one of these. I cannot go with a platter because of limited space so Im looking at alternatives. Im thinking double mutt or something else. Thank you.  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 10-02-2005 05:32 PM                     There are some some pictures of new single sided towers on This PDF. The Westrex double sided towers are able to be rotated so they can hold two (13k) films at once and are in wide use in the UK.  |  IP: Logged Alan Gouger Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 501 From: Bradenton, FL, USA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 10-02-2005 05:55 PM                        Wow I like that single unit. Who sells these in the states. Thanks for the PDF.  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 10-02-2005 06:41 PM                     I would assume that Kinoton America would be able to advise you.  |  IP: Logged Alan Gouger Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 501 From: Bradenton, FL, USA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 10-03-2005 04:21 PM                        I just got a quote on a new SPT 5000. WOW, Not what I was expecting. This must be the Cadillac of lines. I'm sure its a good product but ouch.  |  IP: Logged Lindsay Morris Expert Film Handler Posts: 233 From: Darlington, WA, Australia Registered: Sep 2002 posted 10-03-2005 08:35 PM                     Amanda, Somewhere amongst my guff on the Eprad Double Mutt I use there is a formula supplied which allows one to calculate the run time of any sized spool. This covers the varying hub diameters and the overall diam when loaded with a program. The variable is the film stock used and when this was done only acetate was around and I have had to guess a bit when poly stock is loaded. It is pretty accurate within 5 or 10 mins and I will dig it out and post it here for general info. Regards, Lindsay  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 10-03-2005 08:37 PM                     I believe the Goldberg Platter Reels are 38 inches diameter with a 10 inch hub. (I can verify tomorrow). Those can hold 2 hours 45-50 minutes of polyester film.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 10-03-2005 08:54 PM                        At best you can fit 18% more tightly wound ESTAR based film on a reel than triacetate based film. Specifically, the capacity in feet is: L = (D^2 - C^2) x pi / (48 x t) Where L is the length in feet. D is the diameter of the reel in inches. C is the diameter of the hub in inches. pi is well, pi (3.14159 ...) t is the thickness of the film in inches (0.0053" for ESTAR based films, 0.0062" for triacetate)  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-04-2005 04:17 AM                     Amanda, there were a few variants of the Westrex Tower, wide line, slim line, single sided, brake, non brake. However they are all model 5035. The new Kinoton unit is excellent, as is the Projecsan ( I wouldn't say they copied Kinoton, but it's helluva close).  |  IP: Logged

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