Acmade Compeditor Pic-sync bulb

[Gillian Donaldson-Selby]

This may be a bit of a long shot, but does anyone know what bulb is used in the Acmade Compeditor? I'm busy restoring one that came without a buld to compare and there are no manuals available. The lamp looks a lot like a G4 with two thin pins, but my G4 bulbs won't go in. I would like to be sure that it shouldn't use another similar bulb.

[Mark Dunn]

16mm? Mine takes a 12V 20W G4. I don't know what else to suggest. If it's a very old hand-cranked version it could be different, I don't know about those.

Have you checked the pin spacing at the socket? Should be 4mm. of course. Can you put up a photo?

Edited Friday at 10:36 AM by Mark Dunn

[Gillian Donaldson-Selby]

Thanks, Mark - that's reassuring! It is indeed a G4 fitting. I'm glad to know yours works OK with a 20-watt bulb- I was worried about heat. Various projection resources recommended an axial filament, which has been a pain to source, but I have some G4 6v 20 watt axial bulbs on order now. I'll let you know how it works out!

Have you had any problems with chrome chipping off the film + magtape guides? (I'm assuming they are chrome-plated brass.) They still seem very smooth to me, but I thought if they are scratching, I might just stick electrician's tape over them.

[Mark Dunn]

Mine was near-mint when I collected it from Wardour Street in 2005 and it's just had its first rental since, so not a lot of wear and no missing chrome. The guide rails don't (or shouldn't) bear on the picture area or tracks, and a lot of the time the stock doesn't touch them anyway. If you do have problem areas, maybe some chrome polish. I think I filed smooth some of the countersunk screws that hold the guides in place.

I wouldn't have thought the filament orientation makes much difference in a condenser lens setup. A pic-sync isn't IMAX- you just needs to be able to see the image. Fine detail and lighting you judge on a Steenbeck anyway.

Edit: just had a look and mine has black painted aluminium on the picture track and plastic on the mags. It's a late model.

Edited Saturday at 01:51 PM by Mark Dunn