FOR RESTORATION/REPAIR OR SPARE PARTS ONLY
Harmour & Heath (Sydney NSW)
Type: B2
16mm sound projector
Circa early 1950's - WWII had just finished
After the war, importing ready made equipment or components was very difficult, many Australian companies took the initiative and built their own products.
This 16mm motion picture sound projector was one such product.
Australian ingenuity, design and "cleverness"
The designer/manufacturer was Harmour & Heath, an Australian company based in North Sydney NSW.
All components are local except the lamp and even then, that lamp (from Germany) may have been fitted at a later date - seems unlikely that the Germans were supplying projection lamps right after the war, they had other things to worry about!
I have spoken to a few people about these projectors and it does seem they were pretty highly regarded in the "projection world" of that time.
TAKE EXTREME CARE - VOLTAGES HAZARDOUS TO HUMAN HEALTH
I have NOT powered up any of this equipment. The AC transformer box in particular would need to be absolutely thoroughly electrically tested both for correct outputs but primarily for safety.
It is imperative that anyone who is intending to restore or repair this equipment should be EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS and take all steps to ensure electrical safety.
Check the winding insulation to ground, the actual insulation on the winding "tails" and general earthing of the equipment. Not just your ordinary multimeter test but with equipment designed to check for insulation breakout - a megger or similar.
I would also be extremely wary of applying 115V to that motor without a good cleanup first
Safety standards were much different 70 years ago!
This projection equipment was designed as a three component system
PROJECTOR
POWER BOX
AMPLIFIER BOX
The Amplifier box is SOLD - very nice unit and immediately someone recognised its potential (2x 807's 3x 6J7's) and snapped it up
This means I am left with the projection equipment and its associated AC POWER BOX, these are the only two items I am offering, as described in great detail below:
The projector is housed in a large vinyl covered wooden box
The power "box" is a solid sheet steel box
We are not talking portable here! Just these two units weight around 50Kg!!! Trolley is required (or a 2 person lift)
TOP PROJECTOR CASE:
Constructed of plywood with a vinyl like material, some joins of the vinyl are "lifting" but the wooden box remains "sound"
Drops down over the projector and is secured by 4x clip locks
Clip locks work but have medium level rust
The top of the case had a leather handle, that has completely disintegrated - not supplied
Aluminium metal label attached to the top which warned of the fact that the projector contains oil and must ALWAYS be kept in an upright position - this writing has now substantially worn away
One side of the box has a label attached with the Harmour & Heath company logo
PROJECTOR:
Supplied exactly as in the photographs - if you can see any components missing, so be it ... this is all I have
NOTE: Because of my photography, you cannot see the reel arms - they are of course included.
Also the lamp housing has no lid - in fact there is a lid but I forgot to replace it when taking the photographs and it will be supplied.
There are no reels supplied
Projector weight, with the case lid on: 30Kg
Projector case dimensions: 28cm deep x 45cm wide x 55cm high
I have an interest in film but I am by no means an expert. My world is audio although I wanted to move into motion pictures, it was not to be.
So here we go with the description to the best of my ability...
3x rubber belts are supplied - these actually look to be ok, no obvious signs of perishing or cracking. All belts are of the same size and don't look to be stretched, I test fitted two of the belts, the fit is tight and "feels" right.
Projection lamp is supplied, fitted (twist n turn fit)
WOTAN
58.8980 E
MADE IN GERMANY
100V 750W 7.5A dHZ
DC tested, it is working!
Cold resistance is 0.9 Ohm and after inspection of the filaments, this bulb still appears to be serviceable
Searching online I see that these are STILL available, so if ever this equipment was restored, replacement lamps should be ok
Projector Lens is fitted and looks to be relatively clean (without scratches) on both of the lens.
Lens body is all metal with a screw thread when positioning into the projector
It appears that this is NOT a sealed unit so access to inside the lens for cleaning shouldn't be a problem
Lens is marked as:
ANTARES
6029
WATERWORTH HOBART
F - 2"
AC motor is marked as:
DURST MOTOR SYDNEY
There is obviously a leak or oil spill (keep in mind the top label says the projector must be upright - I suspect at some time, it has not been stored upright!) It is certainly oil, very strong smell! I wouldn't expect oil around an electric motor so I must assume there is a gearbox somewhere in there.
This motor is run using 115V AC from the transformer box
I manually rotated the motor shaft, large pulley wheel, the flywheel and quite frankly anything else that should rotate and nothing is seized - free movement from everything I tried.
Three bakelite switches mounted on a box inside the case allow control of the MOTOR, LIGHT and SOUND.
Connections to the outside world are via two cables (supplied)
One cable has an octal plug and this looks to be the AC power for the projector, the octal plug fits the AC power transformer box socket.
The other cable has a 4 pin Amphenol connector and this looks to be the audio feed to the valve audio amplifier.
PLEASE NOTE: The nice valve audio amp (2x 807's 3x 6J7G's) was sold separately, snapped up in a jiffy! It is NOT supplied with this projection equipment
AC TRANSFORMER BOX
Case construction is all steel
Multiple input voltages, currently wired for 240v
Outputs 115v & 10v
I am reading DC 0.6 Ohms on the primary, 1.5 Ohms on the 115v secondary winding but on the 10v winding I am reading 0 Ohms or close to it - looks like a dead short on the low voltage secondary winding.
This is not an auto-transformer, there is complete isolation between the primary and secondary windings.
I used to have my trusty "megger" but no longer so I cannot properly test for insulation resistance between the transformer windings and earth/chassis - DC resistance on the meter showed infinity but thats not a good test for insulation resistance.
Insulation of the winding tails is a worry, some cracking can be seen
Manufacturer: Endurance Electric Company Pty Ltd Sydney NSW
Type AN transformer
1250W capable
115V @ 10.3A
10V @ 7.5A
Transformer dimensions: 182mm wide x 180mm high x 150mm deep
Transformer weight approximate is 17Kg
Mounted underneath this transformer is a can capacitor, I would presume use as part of the motor starting. It is impossible to get access (to view the value) without dismantling the complete transformer assembly - so I didn't try!
Just watch out for these capacitors, they used to be oil filled but also the contents of the can should be treated with great caution as many from this period were carcinogenic. The can does not appear to be leaking but if ever there was a leak, take extreme care and treat as a hazardous product.
Total weight of this AC Power box, with the "lid" is 22Kg
I would be extremely reluctant to ship this equipment, pickup from Sydney is the preferred option.
Australia Post will NOT accept this equipment as it far exceeds their maximum weights
Couriers may handle it although the fact it must be kept upright at all times is a concern if it was being shipped AND the shipping cost for such a heavy, relatively large item(s) would be very expensive.
I have checked with your stock standard couriers such as Couriers Please, Fastways and they will NOT accept this item for shipping.
My greatest concern is ensuring the unit always stays upright - the manufacturer makes it very clear that it must be upright at all times and this is something that cannot be assured if it was being shipped.
