Page 25 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

Lamp Sizes Kerridge imported a number of The gate was also modified to
Post war the smallest of the arcs GK40s, 18s and 19s and one complete provide adjustable tension from a
was the streamlined Universal which 20 plant for Christchurch. Prices calibrated knob. Further modification
used a 12-inch mirror with feed including arcs and soundheads were - was made to the gate to reduce the
controls at the more conventional GK40s 1,000 to 1,150 pounds (NZ), possibility of scratching on buckled
position at the side. Like the (cheaper than a Bell & Howell 609 prints. Improvements were made also
Commander, which it replaced, this 16mm with a Universal arc), GK18s to the mechanism and sound head
lamp was available for low or high 1,600 to 1,700 pounds (NZ) and stabiliser.
intensity operation, burning 6mm and GK19s were 2,200 pounds (NZ). A full range of Taylor and Hobson
7mm high intensity carbons. It was Popular lenses was available for CinemaScope:
also used with the Bell & Howell Anamorphic and Varamorphic prism
The GK40 and its
Model 609 a 16mm projector for type lenses and also the cylindrical
descendant the 18
commercial screenings. type lenses. We saw the Varamorphic
in its new mid-
The next size up was the President. in N.Z. where the expansion factor
stone hammer
This used a 14-inch elliptical mirror could be adjusted to allow for those
glaze colour
and accepted carbons in the higher oddball wide screen films that came
have been
range - 7mm and 8mm. It could take out in the fifties. The feature was also
an 18-inch positive with 10 inches handy for cleaning up that dirty edge
of travel. Other on the side masking. There were 3000
features included a and 5000 foot magazines as well as
striker, two motors the usual 2000-foot version when 3D
and an enlarged was developed. Matching spools were
periscope image of available also. Some of these appeared
the arc. in N.Z.
The Lightmaster Kalee also made a 4-track
used a 16-inch penthouse sound head. It was of the
elliptical mirror pull through type with
which reduced the rotary stabilisers. The
incidence of pitting amplifiers were rack
due to its larger mounted using four
distance from the KT66s valves in push-
crater. The pull parallel delivering
Lightmaster was about 30 watts per channel. The
claimed by the preamps using EF89s valves were
manufacturers to be usually mounted on the front
operational up to an angle of 30 wall in separate cabinets. This
degrees. It was designed for the amplification system was
larger carbon size and had some of extended for six channels when
the features of the President such as Rank distributed Cinemeccanica
a striker but not the twin feed 70mm equipment.
motors unfortunately. It was not as These amplifiers were installed in
pleasant to operate as the all of the 7Omm houses in the North
President. I knew of only one pair Island. A similar single channel power
in New Zealand, and they were amplifier with emergency panel was
on Kalee 21s at the St. James in provided for optical mono sound in
Auckland. the larger houses such as the St.
In the late forties there was only a James Auckland and I believe, in the
mentioned. This colour was also used
sprinkling of Kalee plants throughout Majestic Christchurch. Unfortunately,
for the 19, 20 and 21. Kerridge put the
the country with most exhibitors Kerridge never bought into 4-track
Kalee 19 into their top houses in
preferring to buy European and stereo. A retired executive with the
many towns and cities. Kalee made
American brands. In Auckland the company told me the Kerridge view
modifications to the design in the
Regent and the Crystal Palace had was that it would not sell more tickets
early fifties, which improved
12s. The real influx of Kalees came by doing so.
performance and overcame problems
after the war.
which had been experienced with the Well Made
In May 1947 the first of the post 21s. These were optional
There were a number of Kalee 18
war designs in N.Z., the 21s, were modifications such as "steady rollers" and 20-watt amplifiers installed with
installed at the St. James in Auckland. at the top of the gate to reduce lateral Kalee sound heads in smaller theatres.
These, I'm told, were originally destined weave. This was important with These were mounted in cabinets on
for the Majestic in Christchurch and by CinemaScope because of the added the front wall between the machines
the date, must have come off the very lateral magnification. An extra roller and were usually in pairs for
first run of the assembly line. This is assembly provided a loop former emergency operation. They used
probably why there were some design when threading. EF37A's and a pair of KT66's in the
problems with this plant.
CINEMARECORD 2002 25