Got in an Altman 660 Beam projector for the museum today - one of my boss’s garbage picked out of the old shop disposed of inventory. Can’t imagine getting rid of them, but than of course we are selling off all of our Mac 2K fixtures - even if longer lasting lamps fixture wise in best mover on the market for cost effectiveness by way of not killing off lamps before their time and even lasting well past double their lamp life. And got rid of all AF-1000 fixtures and for them had to rent many back for a later tour. Trashing a fixture on the other hand as trash picked... don’t get it if serviceable in not storing it. Two other examples from his attic, a few years ago he pulled out for a tour when the beam projector with scroller was the new follow spot concept. Stupid to throw out such things in realized like 20 years later, and lucky he saved them for future show. This one for the museum, was left in the attic in original mid-70's condition, three wire asbestos and all. At least I think it is an Altman. Totally matches up with the photo right down to the gel frame clips (so that’s the fixture they are from - got a box of extra gel frame clips.)
Only difference is the Altman website in I believe a 1990 catalogue lists this gel frame to be 12.7/8", and mine would take a 13.3/8" gel frame. Got one and it’s round with crossed supports. Also on the more modern in the picture, the focus/mounting mechanism shows three studs or screw feeds sticking out, mine only has two without any indication of a third. Can’t imagine what the third rail on center thing sticking up in the photo is for in showing it. Company I work for started in the Mid-70's, and these were bought for an early 1975 Bob Seger tour I think.
Same in all ways otherwise though missing it’s focus handle. I don’t have one similar and cannot get one so far. Easy enough to make given like eight hours to cut and grind one down, but otherwise I have a pheonic set screw knob that should work for now. Given this fixture probably is an Altman, but perhaps older style than listed say in 1990, it might have been slightly larger and perhaps used a different knob. Doubtful on the knob though given the other two I worked on had I think the same focus knob in use. On the other hand, I doubt this fixture given the proximity of the filament shield to the lampholder could mount a T-20 lamp and that puts it into the Quartz era.. Possible to mount a T-20 Fresnel lamp in it perhaps, but not as much space as I would think in filament shield in staying away from the bulb by a little.
The fixture was re-painted early corporate blue and chips of paint removed from it reveal that it was probably black originally, though not a textured black. Yoke focus knobs are normal cast aluminum for the 70's style in going into a stamped early PAR can like mounting standoff without clutch cam. Figure this fixture has to date after the 1968 or early 70's PAR Can from them. Nook’s article in PLSN places the 1966 Altman PAR can at a different date than the Altman current timeline. Interesting. (TBA this time line in Nook’s thoughts about remembrances from them that invented it.)
What year is this fixture? 1975 “Beautiful Looser” Seger tour perhaps, but was it bought used in being older? The Black Lekos's date to about 1990 from the website. Altman history off?
Only difference is the Altman website in I believe a 1990 catalogue lists this gel frame to be 12.7/8", and mine would take a 13.3/8" gel frame. Got one and it’s round with crossed supports. Also on the more modern in the picture, the focus/mounting mechanism shows three studs or screw feeds sticking out, mine only has two without any indication of a third. Can’t imagine what the third rail on center thing sticking up in the photo is for in showing it. Company I work for started in the Mid-70's, and these were bought for an early 1975 Bob Seger tour I think.
Same in all ways otherwise though missing it’s focus handle. I don’t have one similar and cannot get one so far. Easy enough to make given like eight hours to cut and grind one down, but otherwise I have a pheonic set screw knob that should work for now. Given this fixture probably is an Altman, but perhaps older style than listed say in 1990, it might have been slightly larger and perhaps used a different knob. Doubtful on the knob though given the other two I worked on had I think the same focus knob in use. On the other hand, I doubt this fixture given the proximity of the filament shield to the lampholder could mount a T-20 lamp and that puts it into the Quartz era.. Possible to mount a T-20 Fresnel lamp in it perhaps, but not as much space as I would think in filament shield in staying away from the bulb by a little.
The fixture was re-painted early corporate blue and chips of paint removed from it reveal that it was probably black originally, though not a textured black. Yoke focus knobs are normal cast aluminum for the 70's style in going into a stamped early PAR can like mounting standoff without clutch cam. Figure this fixture has to date after the 1968 or early 70's PAR Can from them. Nook’s article in PLSN places the 1966 Altman PAR can at a different date than the Altman current timeline. Interesting. (TBA this time line in Nook’s thoughts about remembrances from them that invented it.)
What year is this fixture? 1975 “Beautiful Looser” Seger tour perhaps, but was it bought used in being older? The Black Lekos's date to about 1990 from the website. Altman history off?