Re: [photo-3d] Re: My RBT 101 Stereo Projector!

["Allan Griffin" <agriffin@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Don Parks posted a message asking if it would be safe for him to buy a RBT
101 Stereo Projector and expect to be able to run his existing slides,
mounted in glass and metal frames, through it based on the success that
George T. has had to date.

In spite of George's initial success, I have to say that it would be on your
own head, Don, if you went ahead on this basis.  In my own case, I was able
to fix one set of the glass and metal frame slides so that they would run
without a slide-jam as was David Starkman and Susan Pinsky.  However, we
found that this was impossible to do straight off the cuff.  Maybe it is
possible with all freshly mounted such slides or you are just plain lucky.
We found that it was necessary to carefully run the show/sequence and
identify those slides which failed to drop from the slide tray into the
projector gate.  On close inspection, the metal frames of these slides were
distorted in places, totally absorbing the clearance tolerance.  The problem
was overcome after time by replacing the metal frames on offending slides
with new metal frames.  The process was very slow and demanding but it is
possible.  If you want to rely on luck, don't do it.

I know of one American who bought an RBT projector and straight away took it
to Club and hoped to make a big impression by running the local Club Comp.
through his new RBT.  Because the Club Comp. slides turned out to be a mixed
bag (as they usually are), his attempt was a complete failure.  He was so
mad.  He turned out to be the world's worst advert for this unit.  I tried
to explain to him the fact that, if you intended to run a given show using
auto-focus, it was folly to mix glass mounted slides of any kind with
non-glass mounted card slides.  I tried to explain that the autofocus unit
took its cue from the front of the film chip in the case of non-glasses
slides but from the front of the glass in the case of glassed slides.  One
might call this an "unholy-mix".  The guy just looked straight ahead with a
vacant stare.  He could not comprehend.

Just a bit more on that point.  I observed that the person referred to above
did not have a suitable aptitude to use such a fine instrument as the RBT
Projector.  It is NOT just another TDC which any Club member can simply jump
up and run a set of slides through.  If you have ideas of buying one of
these units (two is even better!), you need to think:  "Am I of the right
temperament to give the unit its proper respect"?  "Am I prepared to take
the necessary time to get to know its finer points, even if it means
interpreting the instruction manual in detail" (something that is often
completely ignored)?

Nuff said.  Really, Don, it might be the best thing you
could do - that is - strip down the BEST of your glass mounted stuff, CLEAN
the film chips, remount in RBT mounts and go from there.  I was so pleased
that I did that with the best of mine.  I was appalled at the amount of dirt
AND mildew that had accumulated under that glass.  Once you have no sharp
metal edges to cause damage, you'll be pleased you are rid of glass.  That
method was good in its day.  In my opinion, its day has been and gone!

Allan Griffin



 

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