Telex Caramate slide projector

I'm unfamiliar with these but have an opportunity to buy one for under $100 US. I don't know the model yet.

Can anyone tell me anything about them? They seem professional but I can't find much on them on the internets.

Would I be better off waiting around for an Ektagraphic?

BTW, is there a better forum to post this on?

Thanks,

Jeff Glass

I do not remember why the Caramate was "different." I do remember, iirc, it took standard EK carosel trays. Did the Caramate have a built-in screen? I do not think it stayed on the market very long. Sorry for not being more definitel.

I believe there are Telex and Singer Caramate projectors with a variety of models, and I think they were made in Europe. I have a Pradolux RT300 that is a Singer Caramate with (I believe) a few mods. They do take standard Kodak Carousels, but may be compatible only with the 80 slide trays, not the 140 capacity trays. That is true of my model. Others may be different.

Mine is well made, and I've been using it for 30 years, with one trip in for a CLA.

One advantage of the Pradolux RT 300 version that I have is that the light is bounced off a mirror before passing through the slide. The mirror is coated to pass (not reflect) both IR and UV, which then don't continue through the projected slide. Those wavelengths do the most damage to a slide that's being projected. I don't know if this is standard on the other versions of Telex/Singer projectors.

I prefer my projector to the dozens of Kodak projectors I've used over the years.

You don't say where you are, but mention US$ prices. The Singer/Telex didn't see wide distribution in the US. My guess is that in the US they were mostly sold by specialist A/V suppliers for more professional installations.

Lee