Slide Projector / Carousel Compatibility?

[gmikol]

I've got a question about compatibility between projectors and carousels...like are there compatibility issues?

Do all carousels work on all slide projectors...was this something that was standardized? I have access to my parents' Kodak projector, but I remember seeing a lot of non-Kodak (i.e. non-yellow) carousel boxes at my wifes' grandparents' house. What's my chances of just having them work? Or do I need to find out the manufacturer of the carousels and find a projector what will work with them?

Any help is appreciated.

--Greg

 

[Sirius Glass]

Kodak made both 80 slide and 140[?] slide Carousel trays. Many non-Kodak companies also make Carousel compatible tray. Most likely they will work on a Carousel, but the only way to know is to try it. Several other projector companies make round trays, but they were not interchangeable with Carousel trays.

On eBay some sellers claim that AIREQUIPT Rotary Slide Trays will work on Carousel projectors, but I do not know.

Steve

 

[Bill Burk]

Over the years I've had a few different kinds of projectors handed down to me.

I had some old Yankee carousel tray clones. These were probably what your parents had if they had a Kodak Carousel projector. The oldest 500 series projectors could only take 80-slide trays. Projectors that can use 140 trays can also use 80 trays.

Another popular tray system is the Sawyers. The circular tray sits vertically (more like a ferris-wheel), has zigzag teeth and the slides are held in the slots with springs. The Sawyers projector could also take rectangular trays.

Revere made another rectangular tray system that was incompatible with Sawyers.

Bill

ps I work for Kodak but the opinions and positions I take are my own and not necessarily those of EKC.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I have a couple of Kodak carousel projectors, both work great.

Jeff

 

[gmikol]

Thanks for all the tips everybody, but I think things have gotten off-course.

I have access to a fully-working Kodak projector (probably one of the Medalist AF series, it can take the 140-slide carousels). I was trying to find out the chances that carousels of unknown manufacture and vintage (and which are currently 2000 miles away from me) would work on it. I guess I'll have to find out the manufacture of those before I even have a chance of knowing. It would be a PITA to bring the wrong projector the next time I head out that direction.

--Greg

 

[Sirius Glass]

Since the Kodak Carousel projectors for out sold all the other projector in the 1960's and 1970's, there is a high probability that the trays of unknown origin would work in the Carousel projector.

Steve

 

[MattKing]

The old Kodak Carousel trays came in cream coloured boxes, so there is still hope .

The top and bottom of the Kodak Carousel (and compatible non-Kodak replacement) trays have easily identifiable appearances and dimensions, so it would be fairly easy to determine if those other trays will work on your projector - a digital image or a photocopy of the bottom should suffice.

 

[Francis in VT]

Other companies also made Carousel trays but only the 80 type, not the 140. The 140 trays will not work on some of the European Kodak projectors

AIREQUIPT Rotary Slide Trays will not work on Carousel projectors.
In fact Airequipt was lucky they even worked on Airequipt projectors.
I know . I lived through it.

Francis in VT

 

[Ric Trexell]

Try out a stack loader if you can find one.

Kodak also made a stack loader for the Carousels. I bought one shortly after getting my projector. They have the advantage of not having to buy carousel after carousel, which was expensive. The disadvantage was you could not reverse the slides. I then bought a couple of Logan metal boxes which held about 1000 slides or some such number, and you had to take out about 30 slides and hand load them into the stack loader. If I bought carousels, I would have a pile of about 15 of them. The Logan boxes are about the size of a shoe box. If you can find one on ebay, pick one up. I think Logan boxes are still made. Ric.

 

[gmikol]

The projector also has a stack loader, and that's great for slides that are in boxes. But I'm talking about a bunch of slides that are already in mystery carousels. I'd prefer to not have to unload all those carousels, and just leave them as-is.

--Greg

 

[arizonafilm]

I've been wading around in slides, trays and stackloaders for several years. The short answer for compatibility? Possibly. That's probably not what you wanted to hear, but I say that because like any industry, manufacturers often copy what is a leading product and release it for sale under the auspices that it will work just fine on your projector.

The fact is, it might, and it might not. I had several trays meant to work on Kodak carousel projectors, and although they worked, they also hung up when trying to get them off the projector. They were also cheaply constructed, and I eventually got rid of them. If you are looking for advice, I would suggest this: Find a tray/projector combination that you are happy with and that which was popular enough in America at one time so you can easily get OEM parts off auction websites. Avoid the unique and rare set-ups, or you will be pining for some damned part that is unavailable. Match them up in one manufacturing line so your parts are interchangeable and they are wholly compatible.

I use Kodak Ektagraphic III line of 35mm projectors with 80 slot trays and Hasselblad PCP 80 projectors for 120 slides mounted in Gepe anti-newton mounts.

 

[Pedro Pinto Basto]

Hi guys.

I will buy an Kodak Ektalite 2000 and I will project the slides with a 80 slot tray. I will use the timer of the Ektaline at maximum, that is 22 seconds in each slide projected.
Do you know if in casa if buying a kodak 140 slot tray, every slide would be projected 22 seconds?

Thank you
Kind Regards.

 

[Chan Tran]

Hi guys.

I will buy an Kodak Ektalite 2000 and I will project the slides with a 80 slot tray. I will use the timer of the Ektaline at maximum, that is 22 seconds in each slide projected.
Do you know if in casa if buying a kodak 140 slot tray, every slide would be projected 22 seconds?

Thank you
Kind Regards.

I don't think the 80 or 140 tray makes a different in timing except that the 140 tends to jam more often.

 

[darkroommike]

I don't think the 80 or 140 tray makes a different in timing except that the 140 tends to jam more often.

The 140 trays work well only with thin, glassless plastic mounts. Cardboard mounts in good condition will work most of the time but the cardboard mounts will warp with changes in humidity. We used to remount a lot of bad cardboard mounts into the Pakon plastic mounts. And yes (to another post) the Stackloader is great, I now own three of them.

 

[ozphoto]

I know this is an old thread. but I'm on the hunt for some carousels for my parents' old Hanimex projector. They currently have Rondex carousels and I've found some Rondette versions.

The projector is a Hanimex Automatic 470253. The instruction book only mentions Rondex, so I'm thinking Rondette's won't fit. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Thanks for all the tips everybody, but I think things have gotten off-course.

I have access to a fully-working Kodak projector (probably one of the Medalist AF series, it can take the 140-slide carousels). I was trying to find out the chances that carousels of unknown manufacture and vintage (and which are currently 2000 miles away from me) would work on it. I guess I'll have to find out the manufacture of those before I even have a chance of knowing. It would be a PITA to bring the wrong projector the next time I head out that direction.

--Greg

Take a couple of empty 140 trays with you just in case you need to swap out the slides for the show. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to do that.

 

[ozphoto]

I know this is an old thread. but I'm on the hunt for some carousels for my parents' old Hanimex projector. They currently have Rondex carousels and I've found some Rondette versions.

The projector is a Hanimex Automatic 470253. The instruction book only mentions Rondex, so I'm thinking Rondette's won't fit. Does anyone have any ideas?

Well, this has been solved, thanks to a seller allowing me to take a carousel to check the fit.
Sadly, it's not compatible:

• Rondex carousels are approximately 6.5cm wide from the lip to top
• la Ronde carousels are approximately 5.5cm wide with no lip

Whilst it actually fitted the projector even without the lip, it was simply too narrow to be stable and wobbled all over the place. It seems Rondex carousels can fit Rondette projectors, but not vice versa (at least according to the box I have).

So back to the local "For Sale" ads to look for some that won't cost me an arm and leg.