I joined to nerd out about a followspot

[drpepper182]

Hello,

I have come across this website everytime I search for info about the same thing: carbon arc followspots. So I decided to join because i have pictures and questions about one that I might get to meet next weekend I am so oddly obsessed with them, also a little terrified.

I will post it in the correct area, I hope!



Edit to add: here id a picture because ppl are already interested hahaha. I'll try to post in a more relevant thread as well. It's a Xebex. I am not sure what year.
When I try to google it I get super similar images but can't find this exact one.

Also can't remember my questions but basically want to know everything about this

 

[Lextech]

Welcome, while I don’t miss changing rods, I do miss the wonderful quality of light.

 

[cbrandt]

I've only called one show with carbon arcs, and thankfully intermission lined up to a very nice place to swap rods without any show interruption.

 

[derekleffew]

In the meantime, since you've given us no choice, [WRITTEN BEFORE PICTURE WAS POSTED!] we'll speculate what it might be.

1. 1948 Strong Carbon-Arc Super Trouper, various pages on ControlBooth
2. 1956 Strong Carbon-Arc Trouper, various pages on ControlBooth
3. 1968 Genarco, https://www.controlbooth.com/wiki/Genarco Four to eight of these were installed at the new Met Opera House at Lincoln Center in 1966. May have had the model name Metropolitan.
4. late 1920s Hall & Connolly, https://jimonlight.com/2010/10/07/hall-and-connolly-carbon-arc-spotlight-restored-by-rick-hutton/
5. Not a followspot per se, but one of many film lights (brutes) using a carbon-arc source.

 

[drpepper182]

In the meantime, since you've given us no choice, we'll speculate what it might be.

1. 1948 Strong Carbon-Arc Super Trouper, various pages on ControlBooth
2. 1956 Strong Carbon-Arc Trouper, various pages on ControlBooth
3. 1968 Genarco, https://www.controlbooth.com/wiki/Genarco Four to eight of these were installed at the new Met Opera House at Lincoln Center in 1966. May have had the model name Metropolitan.
4. late 1920s Hall & Connolly, https://jimonlight.com/2010/10/07/hall-and-connolly-carbon-arc-spotlight-restored-by-rick-hutton/
5. Not a followspot per se, but one of many film lights (brutes) using a carbon-arc source.

I just added an image as to not leave ppl hanging!

 

[JohnD]

A carbon-arc followspot with Cinemoid #8 gives a lovely light.

 

[SteveB]

I’d bet that’s a xenon of some sort, it has a big red ignite button near the rear.

 

[SteveB]

I've only called one show with carbon arcs, and thankfully intermission lined up to a very nice place to swap rods without any show interruption.

Ahh…. the memories…….

 

[derekleffew]

So I was wrong on all accounts. Isn't the first time, and won't be the last, today.

It's an Asian import, Xebox and we have limited information and no first hand accounts that I can recall. Almost all our information is for the Xenon versions, I'm not even sure I knew they made a carbon-arc. Unsolicited advice time: myself, I'd hold out for a Super or Trouper. There's always one ot two on ebay, often at an extrangrant price but buyer beware and all that.

Looking closer at the picture, I'm not positive it is a carbon-arc.
-----
EDIT:
Upon comparing to https://www.controlbooth.com/thread...-followspot-sales-brochure.48740/#post-430611 I'd say this is only a slightly earlier model. Are you disappointed to hear it's Xenon and not carbon-arc sourced?

 

[TimMc]

So I was wrong on all accounts. Isn't the first time, and won't be the last, today.

It's an Asian import, Xebox and we have limited information and no first hand accounts that I can recall. Almost all our information is for the Xenon versions, I'm not even sure I knew they made a carbon-arc. Unsolicited advice time: myself, I'd hold out for a Super or Trouper. There's always one ot two on ebay, often at an extrangrant price but buyer beware and all that.

Looking closer at the picture, I'm not positive it is a carbon-arc.
-----
EDIT:
Upon comparing to https://www.controlbooth.com/thread...-followspot-sales-brochure.48740/#post-430611 I'd say this is only a slightly earlier model. Are you disappointed to hear it's Xenon and not carbon-arc sourced?

It looks like a Simpson lamp house (knock off) but it's definitely not an arc lamp and does not show signs of being converted from arc to xenon.

 

[SteveB]

@Tim, could you expand on what a "Simpson lamp house" is ?, never heard of it.

 

[derekleffew]

I think he means Simplex, which actually made the film transport; lamphouses were most often by Peerless.

Found a fun video:

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Notice the art-deco touches, which date from the 1920s, on the knobs of the projector, and/or

A sleeker form of the style, called Streamline Moderne, appeared in the 1930s, featuring curving forms and smooth, polished surfaces.

Strong too, got its start making movie projectors before followspots. The inability to convert to digital was a major factor in killing off that line of the business.

 

[TimMc]

@Tim, could you expand on what a "Simpson lamp house" is ?, never heard of it.

Oops! Derek is right, I meant Simplex. One film house I worked had 3 projectors, 2 with Peerless lamps and the 3rd with Simplex. The 3rd machine was used for the trailer reel when the feature was anamorphic - we wouldn't have to do a lens/aperture plate swap. The projectors were Motiograph, with a barrel shutter that ate light; with Century or RCA projectors (fan shutters) the Simplex were plenty of light but not enough for the feature film so the owner installed the higher output Peerless on 2 machines.