I’ve found a small notebook from WWII which has handwritten instructions by the R.A.O.C York for a few projectors. This is the instructions for the Kodascope Model C.

I’ve done my best to copy the text exactly but because the handwriting was so difficult to understand a few bits may be wrong. There were also a few hand drawn diagrams in the instructions too which have been remake as closely as possible in digital formats.

The Kodascope
Model C

21-10-40

Takes 16m.m. Safety film, which has one shiny side & one dull. There are two types of this film, ie:- .1 Positive – positive 2. Positive – negative. To tell if the film is correctly wound on the reel, when held with the square hole on the right & the film leaving the reel on the far side, the action of reading should be understandable.

On 16m.m. film there are 40 pictures per foot. & the projection rate is 16 pictures per second .-. 1 ft. of film is exposed in 2 ½ seconds, & 400ft. in 16 ½ min. Each film has a number. This is on the box, the tin, the reel, & on the film itself.

The Kodascope motor is unilaterally wound & will take A.C. & D.C. current of 110v, & is 1/96 HP.& is the means of driving the machine. The lamp is in a housing directly in front of the motor. It is a 100v/300w. 8.F. pre-focus type. When replacing a lamp, rotate it until it meets its stop. It is air-cooled by a fan from the motor & a cap is fitted to prevent light escaping from the top of the lamphouse. The lamp must not be exchanged until it has burnt out. Average life – 100 hours. The housing has a correctly adjusted reflector, to throw forward the lamp; rays, which must not be touched. On top of the motor is the motor speed control, for re-winding.

The inching knob is on the sprocket spindle & is used to test the threading of the film, & to clear the shutter blade from the light.

Two belts: From inching knob to take up pulley for taking up film after it has passed through the machine, & one from the motor spindle to take-up pulley, for rewinding.

Guide frame. We have the intermittent movement (pull-down mechanism.) It is driven by a belt straight from the motor spindle, & is so geared that that the claw of the mechanism moves one picture at a time through the gate, which is fitted at the front of the frame & has an aperture slightly smaller than the picture on the film. It is held in place by a spring to ensure the film passes smoothly.

The framing leaver raises & lowers the gate to compensate the picture in the aperture.

The picture shutter is geared direct to the mechanism. The object is to prevent the dragging down of the picture by the pull-down mechanism being visible on the screen. One of the blades of the shutter covers the light each time the film is moved. For 6/96 sec. the film is stationary. It moves in 1/96 sec. Light is on it for 3/96 sec. Mounted below the frame is the still picture device, which disengages the mechanism from the drive of the motor, & the picture in the gate remains stationary. A mica shutter is imposed between the light & the film to prevent it blistering. If the pictures shutter is between the light and the film, turn inching knob until it is clear. To the rear of the frame is the sprocket with its guide rollers.

The sprocket has two sets of 8 teeth & it leeds the film to the gate & also takes it away again. The rollers keep the film in contact with the sprocket teeth.

The object lens screws into the front of the body & is the means of focusing the picture on the screen. Screws into the base of the body when not in use. The main frame cover has a 45° mirror on it. Never replace this cover when the machine is in motion.

The resistance. If the voltage of the mains supply is more than 100v, a resistance must be between the mains supply & the machine. The resistance dispels the surplus electricity by heat. A scale is on the top of the resistance, graduated in 10s from 200v to 250v & correct voltage of the mains supply must be set by the pointer. If the current is below 200v & above 110v, the resistance must be set at 200v. When replacing in the case, the pointer of the resistance must be set at 250v.

To set up the machine. After unpacking, set upon the stand not more than 20 ft. from the screen. Find correct voltage from meter. See the switch on the base is OFF. Test connections to plugs. Set up take-up & lead arms. Screw Object lens in place. Engage top belt on take-up arm. Plug into lamp on the machine. Plug into resistance. Always connect up to mains last.

To pack up instrument. Always dis-connect mains connection first before machine & resistance. Re-wind films onto correct reels, making sure own spare reel is left. Check tins and boxes for correct numbers. Dis-connect leads machine & resistance. Set resistance pointer at 250v. Oil up machine, place leed arm, take-up arm & object lens in travelling protection. Clean the gate. Enter up details in log book, check contents of case, lock it & tie keys to handle.

Points to note & probable results.

The immediate action is to switch off.

Light out: Exchange lamp. Check connections & test with bulb at mains supply. Check switch. If these tests fail, return to Ordanace.

Light flickering: Light about to fail, or switch or connections making bad contact.

Dim light: If new lamp check v. and resistance settings.

Shock: Check circuit for bare wires.

Faults during show:

Indication:- Jumping picture & gate chattering.

Remedy:- Remake loop and carry on. If loss of loop is frequent, it is due to faulty perforation, bad threading through the gate, or strained claws in the pull-down mechanism.

Broken film: Re-thread machine & wind broken film onto take-up reel.

NOTES. If a lamp is changed, no. of hrs. old lamp burnt must be shown in the log book. All oiling points on Kodascope are indicated by a dot of red paint. If no Kodascope oil is available, M.70 may be used. Oil overnight if possible. When cleaning optical parts a soft cloth must be used. No more than 6” of film to be cut out in any repair.

Training Films Obtainable from Command R.A.O.C. Depot.

System of Demand for films in N.C. Order No. 1173. 23/9/39.

Catalogue of films in N.C. Order No. 98. 7/11/39. Appendix. A. When applying for replacements full details, voltage, & W↑D no. of machine must be given.

1. PROJECTOR
2. RESISTANCE
3. SPARE LAMP
4. 1 LEAD (MODEL C.)
   2 LEADS (MODEL D.)
5. SPARE REEL
6. TEST FILM
7. SPARE BELT
8. HANDLE (MODEL C.)
9. COWL
10. SPLICING OUTFIT
11. BOTTLE KODAK OIL
12. HAND BOOK
13. LOG BOOK
14. 2 KEYS

FIG. I THE FLICKER SHUTTER

1. REFLECTOR.
2. LAMP.
3. CONDENSER.
4. 45° MIRROR.
5. FRAME APERTURE.
6. FILM.
7. GATE APATURE.
8. ONJECT LENS. (1”)
9. SCREEN.

Fig. II LIGHT circuit. KODASCOPE. (MODEL C.)

1. SPROCKET.
2. GUIDE ROLLERS.
3. GATE.
4. PULL-DOWN MECHANISM
   CHAMBER.
5. REQUIRED LOOPS.
6. TAKE-UP REEL.
7. FEED REEL.

Fig. III THREADING UP. KODASCOPE. (MODEL C.)

Fig. IV KODASCOPE. MODEL C.