16mm Projector - Kalart Victor Model 65-10 (1954)

Here's an intimate look at one of the exotic Victor Animatograph (Kalart) 16mm Sound Projectors. Undoubtedly, a complicated and difficult piece of machinery that has puzzled hundreds of teachers and unfamiliarized A/V students in setting up and threading this particular make projector. Tho many have claimed this projector was a great "film handler" with its oddball "backwards" threading and "stationary" sound optics!
It's by far an interesting projector but I can't (personally) take it too seriously because of the oddities. Still a conversation piece. That's why I still have it :)
FYI: The reason Victor had the supply in back of the projector is because the heat from the lamp would warm the film making it pliable as it went through the projector! Makes sense!
Sorry for the corny narration! Had to voice over cause I forgot to turn on internal microphone on camera, duh! :p
Here are some pertinent accessories:
LAMP: DDB
EXCITER: BVS
PHOTO TUBE: RCA 5583 or 927
Cetron CE-25 (3-Pin)
I'll list more shortly

[@arclamp]

I just happened upon this video. I was the resident Kalart-Victor expert in junior high and high school, and loved running Victors so much because they were unique. In fact, my first 16mm sound projector I personally owned was a Victor 65-10, but not in pristine shape as yours.

[@robertholley2195]

finding parts for the amp is the easist part!

[@pbocchi2]

I used to run these when I was in Junior High and High School. I could thread that thing blind folded. Great Machine and amazing to see a video of one running today. In my opinion the newer Bell and Howell self threading machine jammed more than the Kalart Victor.

[@alanfritch3639]

I own a 1960 Kalart Victor 82-25 w/solid state amp and optical/magnetic sound drum. I restored the unit 5 yrs ago. It,s quiet and runs like a champ and case and projector head are in mint condition. I,ll never sell it. It retailed originally for over a thousand dollars! Alot of money in 1960. It's heavy (40 lbs) but I love how it handles vintage films w/o tearing. 90% of its parts are original.

[@KenR208]

I used to operate a similar projector in the 60s but this units ability to run reverse at the flip of a switch is oddly unique. Can you imagine how many delicate films were wreaked by unfamiliar users back then! especially in schools. And, agree with your thoughts on the stationary sound drum (scratch trap) Nice demo.

[@PerformaDelle]

I have a one of 60's and i love it, i learn in high school and my Father show me how to operate, now is my hobbie. Thanks for your video.

[@irvl]

Per "The Victor Animatograph Company and the Genesis of Non-theatrical Film," an article by David H. Shepard, and published in the Spring, 1976 issue of CLASSIC FILM COLLECTOR, the officers of Victor Animatograph approached the Kalart Corporation in 1955. A short time later, Kalart merged Victor into its operations, and it became the Kalart Victor Corporation. In all probability, this merger took place in 1956. Motiograph assembled Victor projectors from 1951 to 1955, per the same article.

[@irvl]

This is an old Victor projector before the merger with the Kalart Corporation. I always love operating the Kalart Victors (they're much quieter than the premerger Victors). I disagree that they are difficult to run. But, then, I've been operating them since junior high school. I own several and they are always my favorite machine. Victor made the first 16mm projector, so since the company made the takeup in the front, that's the way it's supposed to be!

[@amberola1b]

Cool video, I`m looking into an old Victor 16mm projector ( which looks older than yours) in an antique shop. They only want $40.00 for it, it looks to be in great shape and the lady at the shop wants me to show a film she also had at the shop to see what`s on it. We both don`t even know if the projector works, but on my next day off I`m going there to see if I can get the machine to work. And watching your video is going to help me in figuring out how to get it running.

[@TheaterBobster]

I remember this projector when I was in high school. I thought it was a great projector. How my schools solved the problem with teachers, operating the equipment, my school had a AV Department. Teachers would request a movie and what period they wanted it to play and the students were assigned to go and show the film.

[@rchapel]

I Loved this machine. Easy to thread and protected the film with its safety loop trip mechanism. You're threading it the hard way. Engage the film on the takeup reel first. Pull down enough film to place it around the sound drum, and thread from there.

[@16mmDJ]

I approve of that take-up reel.

[@kenkohnke4511]

I love this machine. Any idea on how to get spare take-up/rewind belts?

[@nomadben]

Wow, what a complex machine! Great demonstration of it. How did you find out how to set it up?

[@arclamp]

There is a much quicker way to thread these machines: Open the gate (film trap), soundhead rollers, and sprocket shoes. Mount feed and take-up reels, attach leader to takeup reel and take up a foot or two. Draw down a loop of film to the soundhead. Thread the soundhead first, then from soundhead to take-up reel, then the gate back to feed reel. Take up slack, test threading and enjoy the show!

[@hknapp-hj2sn]

What a disaster to thread one of these things. I think it's amazing that my elementary school teachers could do this proficiently.

[@julianrodolfo]

Hi PCinoFlix thanks for the video, do you have any info on the amp that it uses, is a 15w a 25w ? Is there a number to id it.... Anything would help thanks.

[@amberola1b]

Hi, I have a Victor projector similar to yours, mine is model 60, and I wanted to test the vacuum tubes to see if they`re still good, but the numbers on two of the big tubes is just about worn off and I can`t read them. I have a tube tester but can`t choose the correct calibration to test them because I can`t read the numbers. Any help would be appreciated. Also thanks for this clip you uploaded because it helped me in knowing how to thread mine.

[@ed13adema]

Great Video.....I just got a Kalart at a yard sale.....I hope you don't mid if I ask your advice........The motor makes noise but the reels don't move......all the tubs light up and the lamp works too.....Should I just sell it for parts or try and fix it? Thanks

[@picky3321]

I just got a one eBay. Your video is going to make it easier to work mine thanks. I need to figure out how to get sound because mine did not come with a speaker.

[@BOB_T]

Nice video, i have a 70-15 and need to change the oring belt 47609 do you know the easiest way to access the roller to install my new belt ? thanks

[@studio4598]

Good

[@johnstone7697]

My dad collected 16mm films and had one of these Victors. I learned how to run it when I was 10 years old, and could thread it in less than a minute How difficult could it be?

[@Dilotti]

I have model Kalart Projector 1943 !!

[@CV2200A]

I have an older Victor Model 60 which has a separate metal case for the speaker. Although the belts and pulleys look the same as 65-10, I found only the supply reel belt must be twisted to clear the opening. If both supply and take-up belts are twisted, the supply reel gets driven by the take up reel by the common pulley. By twisting only one belt, the pulley provides a little back tension to the supply reel. My Model 60 to work properly must not have the take up belt twisted. Keeping the belt untwisted allows the clutching action of the pulley to apply tension on the take up reel without the belt slipping. Unfortunately this causes the take-up spindle to turn in a direction that the film takes up other side out. Thus when the film is rewound, it makes sort of a sideways "S". These old projectors with the old lamps consume a lot of power. With a 1000 watt lamp the projector consumes 1200 Watts! Compare that to the newer projectors that only consume about 400 Watts and provide the same brightness.

[@glennbucalo2055]

I have just aquired a Victor 65 25 model. But it dosn't have a speaker? Does anyone have that special cable if I get a speaker?

[@EdwardGoodman]

Any insight on the "Silent" vs "Sound" speeds? 24fps and 18fps? Just wild guesses there. Anybody know for sure?

[@projectionist4459]

24fps sound, 18fps silent

[@neverknowit11]

It was easier for me to thread than the Bell and Howell. Which the sound and picture were sometimes out of sync.

[@CristianDiaz-pv8mg]

Tengo 4 proyectores para la venta3 súper 8 mm y uno dijital .

[@manojtomar8354]

कहाँ से परचेस करे

[@joegarcia1202]

the first sixteen millimeter movie projector

[@03taru]

Nope

[@kenkohnke4511]

I learned how to thread this machine in 4th grade

[@amberola1b]

P.S. I`m also a projectionist.

[@jeffmissinne3866]

Kalart Victors are not exotic or difficult. JENNIFER LOPEZ is exotic and difficult. Kalart Victors are just projectors that thread from back to front!

[@froby_flingit]

Hard to operate? I ran those all the time in grade school, seemed easy to me.

[@hansrajramprusad194]

It's not like this that the threading is done.

[@duanewince5594]

This projector is kinder to film than any other brand of projector. However, you are not threading it correctly. You put the film into the takeup reel and then pull film down to the sound drum. Insert the film into the sound drum. Then, thread the film around the bottom of the top gear to the takeup reel. Then, put the film into the lens path, and over the top of the top gear to the supply reel. Much easier to thread than what you showed.

[@joegarcia1202]

the light pink cable looks like today modern computer cable for internet on the outside the r.c.a. movie projector. laptop or desktop. old school technology. Was the movie projector modified? it looks like it. was modified with todays modifications. Ethernet cable from the back of the cable modem box. or telephone modem. their is nothing like it. the

[@dutrekker1617]

You don't know how to thread the machine and that is why you think it is hard to thread. To thread it properly, open everything and thread the film to the takeup reel and turn the takeup reel about 3 times. Grab the film between the reels, bring it down to the sound drum, make a loop and insert it into the sound drum. Close the sound drum arms. Make a loop and thread the film to the lower portion of the upper gear. Close that gear. Thread around the tension rollers and your're half finished. Now make the bottom loop on the left side of the sound drum and align the film for the film gate. Close the film gate. Make a loop and thread the film through the top portion of the upper gear. Finished. Later Kalart Victors had this threading technique printed on the base of the machine. Doing it this way is fast and efficient. As for the safety trips, any missing or torn sprocket holes would turn the projector off. Compare this to any other 16mm projector where missing or torn sprocket holes would result in the film being mangled and broken. Further, Bell and Howell 16mm with the built in speaker had terrible sound compared to the Victor. The cord on the Victor speaker is long enough to place the speaker at the front of the room by the screen so it is facing the audience.