Ernemann II cinema projector

[SidW]

This Ernemann II cinema projector stands prominently in the reception area of a Bayeux hotel (Normandy, France). The decor of the hotel has a cinema theme with plenty of photographs of actors or scenes from bygone films, possibly related to the cinema on the opposite side of the street (can be glimpsed in some pictures below).

The projector is complete with Zeiss reels and a threaded film, but lacks the lamp unit and the lens:





A little closer:




Ernemann was a Dresden company, subsequently DDR, but the driving motor was supplied from the USA,
running on all three phases and rated at 2.2 Amps and 14 HP. Unfortunately no date.


The opening for the lamp unit, showing a rotating shutter:


The empty lens mount with a view into the film gate:


Here's a link for Pacent Reproducer - 1930s audio and radio equipment. The company existed from 1919-1952:
www.nostalgiaair.org/resources/290/T0000290.htm
www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=3015

[nikonbob]

You never know what interesting items you will find around the next corner in your travels. It appears to built like a tank.

Bob

[SidW]

Here's a link to a Swedish article from 1929, advising Swedish cinema owners to tread softly when upgrading equipment to sound films on account of the expense. Costs and equipment are reviewed, especially Western Union, and a list of projectors given that were known to be compatible with Western Union equipment. The list includes Ernemann I and Ernemann II. So this means the Ernemann II is 1929 at the latest.

www.fsfl.se/backspegel/annons_we.html

Make sure you scroll all the way down even if you don't understand the text, there are some beautiful illustrations at the bottom with English legends.

From the same site, a 1929 presentation in Swedish of the Pacent sound system, with an advertisement reproduced at the bottom of the page.

www.fsfl.se/backspegel/annons_pa.html

The next link lists Ernemann under Zeiss for 1926 on, and reports the Ernemann II for 1929-35, 1000 produced.

www.xs4all.nl/~wichm/cinelisc.html#Z

Ernemann are still active in cinema projection, now at Kiel where the factory was moved from Dresden in 1945 (checke the "Firme" tab for history):

www.ernemann.com/home.html

[SidW]

Jun 15, 2008 9:38:24 GMT -5 nikonbob said:

You never know what interesting items you will find around the next corner in your travels. It appears to built like a tank

Indeed you don't Bob. Regarding the build, this is a theatre projector, presumably in daily use for a few decades. Running on all three AC phases, just imagine the heavy duty electrical aspects, and the power needed for illumination. A Finnish site I turned up listed cinemas in Finland with their projection equipment, and there were several Ernemann II in service until the 1950s or 1960s.