Page 10 - RD_2020-12

It's very rare to find a complete Powers these days with a few, like these, coming from the tip or some
old Projectionist's back shed. Broken, rusty, corroded and 80% missing, two of these arrived at my front
gate with a note - ''Thought this may be of some use. Found on the lmbil Dump." No signature. Thanks,
friend, they certainly are of use and one day they may even run again. Note the fold-down shutter. We
cannibalise the good bits - this one has a future. The bottom of the casting has been sawn off to fit a
sound head - most were. Find one with the casting complete and you have a rare gem. Production ceased
in 1929 when the Nicholas Power Co. Was taken over by the Precision Machine Co. N.Y., The makers of
Simplex projectors. shaft (for transport).

I followed the film path down to the sound spools were screened at the Grand, the runner
head - hey what's this? would race them to the Padua on his motor
bike and sidecar and pickup their first two
I didn't believe it - these ancient Powers were reels for us. This allowed Hoyts to hire just one
mounted on the latest RCA sound heads, program for two theatres (and sometimes
identical to the sound heads at the Padua. It three) saving heaps. It worked well until the
seemed totally incredulous - like matching a motor bike had a puncture (common) or a
Wright bi-plane with a Spitfire. RCA's, well crash (less common) causing the projection
that certainly made me feel better - until I staff at both theatres to have a nervous
glanced down and saw the blood stains on the breakdown (we were very conscientious in
floor. those days).

Charlie gave me a run down on the rest of the I longed to get back to the Padua but Head
equipment, all of which were ancient cast-offs Office told me to stay at the Grand for the time
from other theatres. We were switching our being and softened the blow by making me a
program with the Padua. This meant that the First Assistant Operator and increasing my pay
Grand ran the main feature first, while Padua by two quid a week.
ran the support feature. After the first two

10 REEL DEALS December 2020