Bell & Howell Auto Load Model 245BA
(1957)(Incandescent Lamp)

Projector's Information.

I got this projector at a trift store. They sells old things like projectors, cameras and whatever things no one wants anymore very cheaply.

Cover On.

Here you see the projector's cover on. It's included to protect the fragile parts inside from dust. The whole thing is made of metal except the handle and the logo.

Back View.

Nothing to write about. I kinda like the hammered finish. The finish kind of died these days. I am having a hard time finding something new that have the finish.

I took this picture just in case anyone ask "what do the back of the projector look like?" So here it is.

Bottom View.

As you see the projector is UL listed. The motor can be seen inside the vent holes above the silver knob. The cardboard tube is the conduit for the wires to the lamp holder. The knob thing is to raise the projector front to shine the movie a little higher. It's spring loaded so it will sting you if your hand is in the way of the foot. The spring pack a punch. (Yeah, these things were heavy duty back then.)

Label & Switch.

Here is the label for the projector. Also shown is the switch for the motor/lamp. The switch turns on the motor first then while leaving the motor on turns the lamp on. (Can't turn off the motor and lamp's on. It will overheat and melt. Seen that happen on another projector.)

The knob over the word "model:" is the framer. Different films have different positions of the holes in relation to the image frame. Adjust it untill you have one frame not two split frames.

Directional Lever.

This lever is used to control the film's direction. It's also the pause to stop the film. The reversal speed is the same as the forward play but backward. Today's VCR/DVDs doesn't have that setting anymore. When it's in pause, the image goes a little dimmer cuz there is a mesh shield between the lamp and film. That's to keep the lamp from frying the film which probably contains valuable memories or really boring lectures. (I remember back in Brazil there was a movie projector showing some boring subject which I forgot. The motor stalled and the lamp fried the film causing the room to smell bad that we had to leave the area.)

Lamp & Aperture.

Here is the lamp that came with the projector. It's a Sylvania DFN 150w. Unfortunately it doesn't work anymore. The little circle in front of the lamp is the shield I was talking about. (The lever is on still mode.) It's metal. Can't be plastic cuz the lamp's heat will cut thru that and fry the film without any trouble.

The shield over the lamp is the light shield. It keeps the stray lights from leaking through the vent's holes of th cover I removed for this picture. It's a distraction especially when the scene is nightime.

Lamp Holder & Aperture.

Here is the lamp holder. Unusual ain't it? The lamp used is inserted in one way. Can't put it backward. The lamp's mirror need to be facing the aperture which now that shield is gone. (Had it on forward or reverse, doesn't mattery which since the shield goes away when the movie is playing.)

8mm Picture Area.

The chrome rail with the tiny hole is where the film sits. The lens goes in front of that little hole. It focuses the light that goes through the film's frame on the screen for viewing.

Business End.

Here is the lens that focuses a 1/4" picture into a 60" image on the screen/wall. It's a Bell & Howell Filmovara 17~27mm F1.6 made in the US. The red marks on the knob was made by my brother long before I could get my own website to upload this projector. It's to move the frame by frame when it's on still mode. That will be spinning when on play or reverse. Keep your hands away from it when it's spinning.

Cooler's Hole.

Here is the cooler for the lamp. (Removed in this shot.) It keep the lamp from overheating and melting. The yellow wires in the rectangular hole is for the lamp. Same rule apply here as the red knob above. (Keep your fingers away from it when it's spinning.) Don't want to lose any fingers.

Internals.

I opened it up to show how simple it is. The gears are made of plastic except those gray ones which are made of metal.

Shutter Wheel & Rev/For's Wheels.

The gray disk with holes on it is the shutter wheel. The open holes are for when the frame is in place and then you see the image. When it's time to change frames, the gray area between the holes goes between the film and lamp. It's the flicker you see when you view it. It happens so fast you barely see it.

The two wheels are for the forward or reverse. One wheel touch the disk's rim at a time. The whole thing moves left or right for the wheel to engane the outside of the disk or the inside.

Blower's Fan.

The intake of the cooler's for the lamp. It keep the lamp from overheating. The belt you see is for the two wheels mentioned above.

Generic Motor.

Here is the motor that operates the whole thing.  It doesn't say who made it so I am calling it Generic. The little propeller is to cool off the motor. Doesn't need to be big since it doesn't heat as much as the lamp. It spins clock-wise.

Specification.

Brand: Bell & Howell
Model: Auto Load 245-BA
Country: USA
Watts: 300w
Lamp: DFN 150w 120v
Lumens: 3500
Lens: 17~27mm F1.6
Type: Silent 8mm
Weight: 11.5 Pounds
Size: 12"H 10"D 9"W