Page 28 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

IN THE ARGOSY BIOBOX
Top (Left and Centre): The Powers 6B with hand fed arcs. A wire take up spool can
be seen on the operating side.
Bottom: Another ‘woman in question’. Mel Elliott at the work bench studies a lobby card
for Cynthia. “Little did I know that I was going to marry a Cynthia”.

Dimming the lights

Ken Newell mentioned the ‘home
made’ dimmers at the Argosy. For the
benefit of readers who like who knew
that dimming lights was done by using (i)
variable resistances to ‘soak up’ the
current, but never got further than that,
here at my request are Ken’s drawings
and explanation, all from his memory
of the Argosy system. - Editor.
The sections of the Argosy dimmer
box were:
(i) The wall mounted cover with
the handle A in the off
position.
(ii) Cover removed showing the
handle A, the row of contacts
or studs B– a wire led from
each stud to the resistance box,
except for the end one which
was the ‘Off’; the operating (ii)
arm C which was insulated
from the contacts and the
pivot D.
(iii) Electrical circuit of the unit.
Mains power from A sent
electricity to dimmer B (only
five positions illustrated).
There were three switches C,
one for each pair of house
lights D.
(iii)
(iv) Inside the resistance box. The
end plates E were insulating
material. Two rows of screws
in the end plates supported the
resistance wires and the wires
to the control box. Only three
wires are shown, each wire
must be of greater and greater
length to provide the resistance
and give a smooth dimming
effect.
The cover of the resistance box was
open top and bottom to cool the wires. (iv)
Insulation of the circuitry is
essential but is not described.
WARNING. Do not encourage your
grand children to build one of these
things. A projectionist at the Majestic
theatre Flinders Street was hospitalized
after he touched the dimmer switch
which had gone ‘live’. ★

28 2002 CINEMARECORD