[Ron Walker]

Coming very soon!

[bjsullivan]

Coming very soon!

wink!

Attached File(s)

 P1010022a.JPG ( 83.97k ) Number of downloads: 2

 

[mrgare5050]

wink!

huh? gare

[Ron Walker]

huh? gare

Covered in dust, we found , and were given, a whole bunch of old "brute force" projectors that were no longer used. I plan to clean and rebuild them all and see how they work. They are part of the history of planetariums and well worth preserving. As this work progresses, look for the results here.

[charles jones]

Why would they have had all those old projectors? Where did they come from?

Charles

[mrgare5050]

hey this whole country was founded with brute force!

i wonder if ron has discovered good junk, or usable equipment though?

the dusty shelf is joined by the dusty corner! gare

[Ron Walker]

Why would they have had all those old projectors? Where did they come from?

Charles

They are all one of a kind devices that they build in house for shows that are no longer presented, or have been replaced with more modern devices. With their new Zeiss projector and all dome video, none of these old projectors could hold a candle to the new technology.

I look at them like a computer guy coming across an attic of 8088's. No one uses them anymore but they are still useful in a certain kind of way and certainly should be preserved. They have a kind of charm and presentation that can not be replaced. It's like the new computer created effects for movies. They have replaced miniatures for the most part, but old stile miniatures still have a look that has yet to be duplicated. Also the cost of this kind of technology is much lower for a given effect.

[Ron Walker]

hey this whole country was founded with brute force!

i wonder if ron has discovered good junk, or usable equipment though?

the dusty shelf is joined by the dusty corner! gare

I considered it quite an honor to be invited into this area of the planetarium. One wrong step on the rather shaky cat walk and we would have been through the dome.

Without an invitation, I doubt that anyone would have be able to even find the entrance.


 gateway_to_attic.JPG ( 20.94k ) Number of downloads: 0


Once up in back of the dome, the world of reverse planetarium reveals itself.

 back_of_dome.JPG ( 30.6k ) Number of downloads: 0


Looking off into the corner reveals storage that has not been touched in decades.

 corner_storage.JPG ( 30.47k ) Number of downloads: 0

[Ron Walker]

The very narrow catwalk around the dome was constructed by a very energetic student many years ago. Carpentry was not his forte.

 cat_walk.JPG ( 50.33k ) Number of downloads: 0


As to weather this stuff is "good junk" or can be made functional again, I believe there is a fair supply of both. As far as "good junk", there is a supple of lenses, motors, and projectors that would last a lifetime of experimenting. Many are interesting enough to require some TLC just to see what they do and how well they do it. Something to do on those long rainy winter days when there is nothing else to do. One must temper the immediate temptation to discard any of these projectors as they are part of the planetarium history. If we are true to our intent of making any attempt at a planetarium museum, then we must at least try and get them back into working order.

[Owen Phairis]

I am anxious to hear about the Goto Projector.....

Owen

 GOTOBALL.jpg ( 60.74k ) Number of downloads: 0

[Ron Walker]

I am anxious to hear about the Goto Projector.....

Owen

 GOTOBALL.jpg ( 60.74k ) Number of downloads: 0

That is a very sad tale. Parts of it were just thrown away. More to follow.

[bjsullivan]

quote name='Ron Walker' date='Dec 7 2007, 06:39 PM' post='19363']
That is a very sad tale. Parts of it were just thrown away. More to follow.

[/quote]
Sad yes, but the star cell lenses for these globes are incredible! I have not seen this type of projector before, and Ron held up one of the heavy lenses to a table lamp to show me a beautiful starfield against a silver coated background. The star globes are incredibly heavy.

[mrgare5050]

im afraid i missed WHERE this is, and what planetarium? did you say somewhere in illinois? g

[bjsullivan]

im afraid i missed WHERE this is, and what planetarium? did you say somewhere in illinois? g

I'm sorry gare, we are trying to have a little fun with this thread but it really is no secret anymore that this is Lakeview Museum in Peoria, Illinois where we de-commissioned the 512. Ron found some interesting things in the attic, and that's where he gets to tell the rest of the story. In the meantime, who can guess the projector? First correct answer wins the contest.

[bjsullivan]

I'm sorry gare, we are trying to have a little fun with this thread but it really is no secret anymore that this is Lakeview Museum in Peoria, Illinois where we de-commissioned the 512. Ron found some interesting things in the attic, and that's where he gets to tell the rest of the story. In the meantime, who can guess the projector? First correct answer wins the contest.

One more clue.. Lakeview Museum has a long, rich history and a wonderful old planetarium in Peoria. Sheldon, V.P. of Education and members of his staff and the volunteers from Caterpillar are among the most awesome people I have ever met. We are lucky, indeed to find some extra surprises in the attic.

[charles jones]

Do we get to see a picture of it? Or when it was installed?

[mrgare5050]

i myself was admiring that PLASTER dome - that looks SOLID !!!! none of this lightweight new fangled stuff - i live in an old old house with plaster walls - i LIKE PLASTER!

gare

[bjsullivan]

i myself was admiring that PLASTER dome - that looks SOLID !!!! none of this lightweight new fangled stuff - i live in an old old house with plaster walls - i LIKE PLASTER!

gare

So do I, this reminds me of the planetarium I remember as a child, the acoustics are incredible and the ambience, magical. So much history in this place you can just feel it. Thousands passed through this small dome over the years, once enchanted by the star projector we found in the attic, then by the 512 since 1977, and soon to be lit, with a brand-new Zeiss! Congratulations, Lakeview Museum I hope I can come back and see the Zeiss.

[Owen Phairis]

Sometimes, it can be a very interesting trip up to the planetarium attic......
Anyone remember the movie: The Invisible Boy?

Owen
www.pictorialism.com

Spitz A1
GOTO S-2
Nova III
Spitz A3P


 RobotsZeissE.jpg ( 85.29k ) Number of downloads: 0

[Ron Walker]

Sometimes, it can be a very interesting trip up to the planetarium attic......
Anyone remember the movie: The Invisible Boy?

Owen
www.pictorialism.com

Spitz A1
GOTO S-2
Nova III
Spitz A3P
 RobotsZeissE.jpg ( 85.29k ) Number of downloads: 0

I think I do remember it. Wasn't "Robbie the Robot" on kind of a pedestal in the center of a room when the boy first found him. It was so long ago that I've totally forgotten the plot. Or perhaps the plot was so bad that it was forgettable.

Robbie's first film was the best one he was ever in and still holds up beautifully today.

Is the other robot the "Lost In Space" one or did they use Robbie as well?

I love the Zeiss paper weight. Where did you find that?