Page 9 - RD_2020-12

Right: In "Silent" mode this Powers 6B has a brass lens
mount with a Dallmeyer lens and rack and pinion focusing.
The front 3-bladed shutter was standard for Silent Pictures
at 16 fps with the handle being turned at one revolution per
second. The handle is nonstandard, being slightly longer
than the original Powers handle (now like "hens teeth")
making it easier to crank. The aluminium die-cast frame is
nickel plated, as are all the brass gears, with one fibre gear
(that eventually chews out) in the intermittent drive.

Left: This Powers has
an Australian made
lens plate with an
improved mount to
take the Larger, more
modem, 70mm lens
barrel. Note the older
square cornered
magazine, and the
gear shield (arrowed)
added because this
was the machine that
chewed up my finger.
The 2-bladed shutter
is normally used for
projectors running at
sound speed (24 fps)
c. 1929 onwards.

Left: Powers 6B Above: The gate is easily accessible for
mounted on a very cleaning and threading with the curved film
early Australian. shield and arc spot viewing assembly lifting up
Raycophone sound and away as the gate is opened. The film
head c. 1930 - not a passes through the fire trap chute and rollers
match for the later (essential in the days of nitrate film to stop
RCA high fidelity flames from reaching the feed spool); then over
head but very good the top feed sprocket, top loop through the
for 1930. gate and around the intermittent sprocket

December 2020 REEL DEALS 9