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Author Topic: 70mm on a tower can it be done? Paul Gordon Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 580 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Registered: Aug 2005 posted 01-24-2014 08:21 AM                        Came across some massive 70mm tower style reels at the Bytowne Cinema in Ottawa. They used to show 70mm off U2 Bauer's but did they run 70mm on a tower? Has anyone seen or heard of that? They have a bunch of Cinemeccanica towers in the booth. Check warehouse pictures.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-24-2014 08:55 AM                     Yes, CM towers will handle 70mm. The reel shafts have either double jointed latches that will close on 35 or 70 widths or spacer blocks for 35, I can't exactly recall. The only problem was finding a crane to get a loaded 70mm reel on or off.  |  IP: Logged Derek Martin Film Handler Posts: 12 From: Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada Registered: May 2013 posted 01-24-2014 08:57 AM                        Mine has the double-jointed latches and spacers.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-24-2014 09:00 AM                     quote: Dave Macaulay The only problem was finding a crane to get a loaded 70mm reel on or off. You use a garage door opener... Cinerama Style!  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-24-2014 11:09 AM                     Famous players installed towers in alot of their 70mm houses so there would only be one changeover per show The 36" reel basicaly was full from 3 20min 70mm acetate reels The eprad mut was available in a 70mm version and i modified a SWORD to handle 4' 70mm reels on a prevost favorite70 in the century lindsay ontario theatre  |  IP: Logged David Graham Rose Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Cambridge, UK Registered: Sep 2002 posted 01-25-2014 07:21 AM                     Greetings All! 70mm was run from Cinemeccanica towers at the Odeon Theatre, Marble Arch in the 1970's and 1980's. 3 x 20mins on each, with a changeover controlled by a Cinemation MkII. From a rather rainy Cambridge, I bid you all a good afternoon. David.  |  IP: Logged Paul Gordon Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 580 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Registered: Aug 2005 posted 01-25-2014 09:10 AM                        That would make sense Gordon as the Bytowne was a Famous Player venue (The Nelson) till 1989. quote: Gordon McLeod Famous players installed towers in alot of their 70mm houses so there would only be one changeover per show The 36" reel basicaly was full from 3 20min 70mm acetate reels The eprad mut was available in a 70mm version and i modified a SWORD to handle 4' 70mm reels on a prevost favorite70 in the century lindsay ontario theatre  |  IP: Logged Thomas Hauerslev Master Film Handler Posts: 451 From: Copenhagen, Denmark Registered: Aug 2000 posted 02-24-2014 09:04 AM                        "Baraka" on a tower, voila: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5TIn5JmDk4 "Out of Adrica" on the same tower years later, voil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Z3nfuL5Ww "Baraka" fits on the reel - 90 minutes, "Africa" does not - obviously - so it had to be shown with some breaks.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 02-24-2014 12:16 PM                        Was a tower manufactured with a powered takeup or, for that matter, a powered feed? The only ones I worked with had pressure-pad drives. Seems that would be very hard on 70mm. I liked the MUTs, and Swords, for that reason.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-24-2014 12:19 PM                     The Tower was typically a slip clutch feed and take up though i believe the Westrex used a torque motor Ind Theatre Supply of Texas did make one that was servo driven like the Sword and Dblmutt called the Tall Texan  |  IP: Logged

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