Found This Today

[TupeloTechie]

I was looking through the lighting closet at our other theatre and found this. It appears to be a homemade followspot handle for either an altman shakespeare or an altman 360Q's "speed cap."

I have always wanted to put my spot ops in the catwalk because the angle is better than anything else in our main theatre. However all we have is shakespeares and I could never find followspot accessories for them. I think I will be using this one and making another one for our upcoming production of Once Upon a Mattress .

Is there any reason I should NOT use one of these, safety wise?

 

[soundlight]

Ten degree Source Fours with the full City Theatrical followspot treatment (yoke, handle, iris, found here are very common compact followspots. Great for smaller venues and allows you to put spot ops in places they wouldn't fit otherwise.

In other words, make sure the yoke moves smoothly and that it won't fall off when spun and that your handles are sturdy, toss an iris in it, and you're set.

 

[xander]

A 10 deg S4 with full City Theatrical followspot kit is REALLY expensive. You could find an actual compact followspot for cheaper. But to answer the OP, there doesn't appear to be anything unsafe about it. I would just want to be sure that it is secured tight to the cap so that it doesn't come lose and make sure that the bolt is beefy.

-Tim

 

[theatre4jc]

I've used S4s and Shakes as followspots many times. I just made sure I had a C-clamp with a the focus nut on it so I was not having to have the op swivel it at the yoke nut. Hang the fixture yoke down and add an iris and use very well insulated, heat resistant, flame retardant gloves. I love it because I can have the on/off be dimmed from the console. Just have to make sure the Op is on their game when it comes on.

As for what you have there I'd be a little timid about using the handle. I haven't used a Shake in a while but the S4s I use if you give the lamp to much of a jostle while it's on it can blow. I'd be afraid of the lamp bumping the reflector because the handle moved the base to much. But it never hurts to try it right? Just the possible cost of 1 lamp.

 

[derekleffew]

I was looking through the lighting closet at our other theatre and found this. It appears to be a homemade followspot handle for either an Altman Shakespeare or an Altman 360Q's "speed cap."...

Either someone has visited the Tools for Stagecraft site or a matter of parallel invention/inevtable discovery.

 

[ship]

Wow, that's something. Seen the 360Q follow spot before etc. Retrofit arms to the iris handle and other stuff, heck even counter weighted a Reich and Vogul beam projector with scroller for follow spot before. My work I would hope more refined.

On the other hand, as long as it works... KISS! On the other hand, a wee turn of that coupler and your follow spot operator fights it instead of using it to its best advanage.