BOLEX 18 - 5 SUPER
Super 8mm Projector
1965
- OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 10 1/2" x 8 1/2" x 6 1/2"
- WEIGHT: 15 1/4 lbs.
- CONSTRUCTION: Cast aluminum; light grey finish; Carrying handle; Detachable cover.
- REEL CAPACITY: Reel arms accommodate 400 ft reels. Both reel arms fold downward for storage.
- THREADING: Automatic threading from reel to reel; the device feeds the film into position and forms the loops to the correct length -- film continues threading underneath and to the rear of the projector onto the take-up reel; Manual threading and unloading possible, if desired. Lens assembly pivots outward for cleaning of gate and unloading of film.
- POWER: Two versions: 1) 50 cycle 110-240v AC power; 2) 60 cycle 110-125v AC power.
- LAMP: 8 volt, 50 watt lamp. Modern replacement: CXR 8V/50W
- LENS: Interchangeable lenses; Originally supplied with a choice of four lenses: Bolex Hi-Fi f/1.3 lenses of 15, 20 or 20mm focal length or with the SOM Berthiot 17-28mm f/1.3 zoom lens. A SOM Berthiot 35mm f/1.3 lens was also available.
VARIABLE SPEED: 18 and 5 frames per second; 18fps reverse projection;
Rapid motor rewind. Forward or reverse motion with lamp switched off at
18fps.- OTHER FEATURES: Framing knob adjusts the claw for vertical alignment in the gate; Front leg for height adjustment and rear legs for leveling; Variable shutter automatically changes from three to nine blades when projection drops to 5fps; Catathermic filter preserves the film from excessive heating; A table lamp can be attached which switches off when the projector is running and relights again when stopped.
Notes and Comments
Although Bolex had no Super 8 camera to offer in 1965, when the new film guage
was introduced by Kodak, it was relatively quick in redesigning
the 18-5 projector to accomodate it. It would be another two years before
they introduced their first Super 8 camera, the Bolex
150.
The 18-5 Super featured completely automatic loading from reel to reel. In addition, the heat vent was relocated to the top of the lamp housing, rather than on the side.
Like the other projectors in the 18-5 series, they included a plastic zipper case and 400' reel.
Serial Numbers and Dates of Manufacture
The serial number on 18-5 Super projectors is located on the bottom of the base, directly behind the front leg; it can be used to determine the year in which it was manufactured. The table below lists the range of serial numbers allocated to the production run of both 50 Hz and 60 Hz variations of the 18-5 Super projector.
| # | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3100001 | — | 3111000 | 1965 |
| 3111000 | — | 3125000 | 1966 |
| # | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4300001 | — | 4308000 | 1965 |
| 4308000 | — | 4315000 | 1966 |
