GB-BELL & HOWELL Model 609 16mm PROJECTOR
with MOY speed change unit
Variable speed take-up
Exterior 240V Induction Motor
GB-BELL & HOWELL Automatic Carbon Arc Lamp.

This projector is another of the late Barry Diamondstone Archive from the Odeon, Muswell Hill, London. It is a very interesting projector for at its core is the Model 609 from the GB-Bell & Howell collaboration. The 609, as with the whole range of the 630 series would normally be within a blimp. Possibly this projector was quite noisy but as it would have been in a projection room that was not too important.

The 609 is the basis of a number of 'add-ons' The MOY of London Speed Change Unit is visible forward of the lens unit. This allowed change-over from 16fps to 24fps. The Variable Speed take- up was necessary when large reels of 5000ft of film were employed which allowed a whole feature to be projected without an interval for changing reels. Using this 'graduated gearbox' ensured perfect speed control.

Interestingly the drive motor is separately mounted. The 609 picture projector was used as the core to provide a very professional 16mm projector and used none of the customary belts found on 16mm machines.

The light source is a B&H Rank Organisation Carbon Arc model which dwarfs the 609 mechanism but would have presented a brilliant illumination.

The 609 was presented to the Collection by Odeon Ltd. It's history is not corroborated as yet but likely it saw service in that very Odeon from where it came. It is an unusual preserved projector thereby gaining a rightful place in our Collection thanks to Barry's work.

Two 609s were used in the first 16mm cinema opened in the UK at Skegness 1947.