My Victor Animatograph Corporation Animatophone Model 40, Type 13

Table of contents

History of This Particular Projector

My grandmother just moved from her house of 30 years in Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada). From the usual purge of “stuff” that comes with such a move, I inherited a Victor Animatograph Corporation Animatophone Model 40, Type 13 16mm movie projector. The main reason I wanted it was because I remember watching in awe as my grandfather threaded the film when I was a kid. He treated this projector with great care as he did all his things.

The projector stayed in this small room under the basement stairs for at least 25 years and was never moved to my knowledge.

The projector is very loud, but my grandfather overcame this by permanently placing it under the basement stairs. He cut a hole in the wall just large enough to allow the image to shine out onto the screen on the opposite end of the basement. You couldn’t close the door under the stairs, or the 750W bulb would overheat in minutes.

The Case

When in its storage configuration, it looks like a suitcase. It must have been considered “portable” for the time, but I swear it weighs 70 lbs. The speaker with a built-in amplifier sits on top of the projector and buckles to it. On top of that is a lid with a suitcase handle.

Case configuration with audio.

Case configuration without audio.

A stencil painted on the side of the case says “Winnipeg Board of Education No.1.” I presume this was the previous owner before my family got it.

Stencil marking on the case.

The Audio Unit

The speaker segment of the case doubles as a storage box for cables and spare parts. Unfortunately, my family didn’t own a camera that recorded sound, so I can’t verify whether or not the audio components still work.

Speaker case with spare parts.

Spare bulb and tubes stored in the case.

The Projector

The take-up reel and film reels are powered through the use of long steel belts. There are two spring-belts for normal operation, and a third that you use only when rewinding.

Spring-belts in storage configuration.

Inside view of the projector.

Another inside view of the projector.

Closeup of projector mechanism.

Assembly

The assembly process was tricky. The audio signal cables use two-prong electrical outlet connectors, which can lead to mistakes. Luckily, my grandfather labeled the correct audio signal wire.

Amplifier hookup and audio controls.

Documentation

Some documentation remained with the projector. A threading diagram was taped to the wall, and a large sheet of thick paper contained the operating instructions and a maintenance manual.

Threading diagram taped to the wall.

Operating instructions for the projector.

Film

The film case is steel and has a front lip that folds down for labeling. The 16mm film is perforated on both sides, making it possible to load the film backward.

Film case with steel construction.

Closeup of a film can.

Summary

Above is all the info I have on this projector to date. I hope readers with additional info will contact me so I can fill this page out over time. If anyone has questions, needs more information, or has comments, feel free to leave a comment. I hope you’ve found this page useful.

Comments

• Jeff Missinne (March 18, 2013 at 5:03 am):
  The strange looking outlet that resembles a two-prong power plug with an extra plug in the center is for the speaker. Victor used this type of plug (or something similar) right up until the company closed down around 1990. They were the last U.S. maker of 16mm projectors, and their factory had moved in the 1950’s from Davenport, IA to Plainville, CT, after being bought by the Kalart Mfg. Co., makers of Kalart photo equipment and Craig movie editors. The company name was changed to the Kalart-Victor Corporation.
  If your speaker plug is missing, a non-polarized power plug could, I guess, be used to replace it. (Just make sure no one tries to plug the speaker into the wall socket!!)
  16mm silent film, like your home movies, has sprocket holes on both sides of the picture. Sound film has holes on only one side, and an optical sound track on the other; therefore cannot be threaded backwards. If you run silent film over the sound “head” with the exciter lamp and amplifier turned on, you’ll hear a loud PRBBBBBBRRBBB noise, which is the photo cell “reading” the holes in the film in place of the soundtrack.
  By the way, while numerous improvements were made in the machine over the years, the very last Victor/Kalart models of the late 1980’s still threaded EXACTLY like yours! They are durable, dependable, and gentle on films.

  • Ralph Skillings (November 4, 2016 at 6:38 pm):
    Thanks a lot for the info. Will try to print it. I just picked one up at an antique store on Maine. It actually runs and the projection light works. Quite the machine! I need to do more clean up as some mice took up residence. I’ll have to get a couple of cine movies to try it. Haven’t read your whole article but will.

    • Mike (April 9, 2017 at 10:19 pm):
      I have a model 16s s/n 3387
      Can you help with some information?

• Ralph Skillings (August 27, 2022 at 11:05 am):
  DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN BUY A LIGHT SOURCE FOR THE VICTOR NO 2 35MM PROJECTOR BUILT AROUND 1920? ALSO ANY EXTRAS SUCH AS LENS FOR THIS PROJECTOR?

• Ryan Cox (December 29, 2013 at 8:14 pm):
  Hi, what a great resource you have provided! I just picked up this unit today in an antique store in my hometown. I need to replace the bulb but otherwise it functions. You mentioned that you would be willing to scan the documentation you have for this? They are tough to read as you noted. I have none of the documents so it would be greatly appreciated as I would like to get this thing running top notch. I do not have the speaker or top cover and I am planning on fashioning a feed from the speaker output to something else but having the specs would help me out a lot.
  Thanks!

  • Dennis (February 5, 2014 at 4:44 pm):
    I have a Model 40 PROJECTOR which I am willing to sell. It is complete except for the reel arms which are missing. Photos available.

• Jeff (January 28, 2014 at 1:31 am):
  Of possible interest:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcOWBL_1uRg

  • Feist (March 10, 2014 at 4:56 pm):
    Very cool!

    • Don Trudeau (August 18, 2014 at 10:18 pm):
      Ben, thanks for sharing that information on that very cool machine of yours. I too have a model 40 serial #91687. Judging by your serial # it was built before yours. I have read that as little as 20 units were made per year? I photocopied an advertising folder from the 1938 era and you could buy this machine for $187.50. The unit I have differs from yours only in that it has a separate suitcase for the speaker with the big 12-inch speaker with the metal Victor logo on the front. It also came with another suitcase for the traveling projectionist for his suits. All suitcases matched.
      It came from Uncle Mike from my wife’s side of the family. He bought it new and would rent movies and go around the north of Alberta and show movies for 25 cents a ticket in the late 30s. What a way to make a living.

      • Shawna Daniel (August 12, 2016 at 8:32 am):
        I have one that’s a model 40, and the serial number is 90446. How old do you think mine is?

• Dennis (February 3, 2014 at 9:28 pm):
  I will be selling this exact projector for parts. It is in fair condition. The take-up arms are unfortunately missing, the motor works but the bulb does not.

• Ronald Green (May 13, 2014 at 9:24 pm):
  I have exhausted all resources to find a pull-down-claw for my Kalart-Victor 90-25 projector. Hopefully, someone can help me.
  I do a lot of volunteer work at a local senior center showing my classic movie shorts for several years. The seniors love them; however, I can’t do this anymore due to a broken pull-down claw.

  • Patrick (September 7, 2020 at 9:39 pm):
    You can buy a projector 90-25 parts projector on eBay. There’s one for $35.00. I hope this helps you.

• Dick Knapp (May 16, 2014 at 9:31 pm):
  I have a Model 40 Animatophone made by Victor Animatograph Corp. (later Kalart-Victor) that I last ran five years ago. It sits in a closet with a double 4-inch square glass window projecting to a screen at the other end of the room. I’m now trying to locate a technician that can clean and lube the mechanism before I start using it again.
  I also have a Victor Mod. 65-25 machine. Anyone have any data on it?
  Dick

• duszan (September 20, 2014 at 2:18 pm):
  I have a projector Victor 16mm cine model 40 (11j7). How much can I get for this projector?
  Help me, please.

• John McGinnis (December 28, 2014 at 5:02 pm):
  I have a complete, operational Model 40, type 13 that needs a new home. It has been stored inside since the 1940s, and I would consider it to be in excellent condition. Includes reels, film splicer, etc. Last operated in 1972.

• Robert Fink (July 23, 2015 at 3:57 pm):
  Thanks for this information! I picked one of these up for $9.99 at a thrift store. (It was marked $99.99, but as soon as we showed any interest in it, the price dropped 90%; clearly they wanted to get rid of it!)
  It didn’t come with a speaker, or with the third belt, more’s the pity. I was mainly interested in the tube amplifier; you can sometimes make a killer tube guitar amp out of an old 1940s PA system or even a radio. Accordingly, I took the projector side out of the case, and can tell you that the Animatophone has a huge power transformer. This baby should be pretty loud when hooked up to a decent speaker. The amp I have was “retrofitted” to drive two speakers (I think), by simply wiring in a standard AC wall plate with two two-prong outlets! That confused me for a while, until I realized that the AC-in jack was the one with the prongs sticking out. (I guess I was near accidental death for a few minutes…)
  The tubes are:
  Rectifier: 5Y3 GT
  Power: 2 x 6L6G
  Phase inverter: 6SN7
  Preamp: unknown, because I can’t get the metal cover off.
  This setup is almost identical to contemporaneous Gibson guitar amps, and not that different from large Fender amps of the 1950s like the Bassman and Deluxe. I am going to see about fabricating a speaker cable and hooking it up to a 1×12” or 2×10”.

• Steven B (September 13, 2015 at 10:30 pm):
  I’ve found one of these as well and was wondering if you know what they’re worth or if it’s worth selling it. Mine isn’t in as great of condition as yours, but it’s still functional from what I can see. I haven’t plugged it in and don’t plan on plugging it in just in case something goes wrong and it devalues it. If you know anyone looking for one or any information on it that could be useful, I’d really appreciate it if you emailed me at [email protected]. Thanks! 😀

  • Steven B (September 13, 2015 at 10:32 pm):
    ALSO, I have the speaker with it as well as the oil kit and extra belt.

• Kyja Hurst (November 30, 2015 at 3:18 am):
  I have a Victor Animatograph 16mm projector, serial number 3064, 850 watts. Original case, oil can, lubricating oil, and 1 reel. Model #16. Would you happen to know any information on this, like the year and value? It was inherited from my great uncle, who was a photographer. Thank you for any information you could provide.

• Alan Fritch (January 17, 2016 at 4:55 pm):
  I own a pristine Kalart Victor 82-25 transistorized 16mm sound projector (1960) and am desperately looking for a service manual to recap the solid-state amplifier. I’ve searched everywhere on the internet in vain. All I could find was a service manual for a 75-25, which has a tube amplifier. Can anyone email me with information? The manuals usually run around $15 or so.

• Irv Lipscomb (October 25, 2016 at 1:05 pm):
  This outfit was supplied with all of the Kalart Victor parts the factory had upon closing. You can contact them regarding the availability of parts:
  H B Communications, Inc.
  15 Corporate Drive
  PO Box 689
  North Haven, CT 06473
  Phone: 203-234-9246
  Fax: 203-234-2013

• Edward Goodman (March 31, 2017 at 12:11 pm):
  Yes, please scan if you haven’t already! Have you scanned? If so, where may I get a copy?
  Is the plug (or wire as you call it) that you can’t identify pictured? The speaker cord on my Model 70 sounds like what you are describing. The third prong is a safety/index pin to ensure the speaker is plugged in with the correct polarity and to prevent someone from plugging the speaker into the wall. 🙂

• Mike Rudkin (April 10, 2017 at 7:29 pm):
  I just received one of these with the speaker.
  It is beautiful.
  Mine also has Army green canvas covers on the projector and speaker (these covers have the Victor logo printed on them), like they were used by the military.

  • Mike Rudkin (April 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm):
    I also have a mint copy of the parts and service manual.

    • Jay (May 11, 2018 at 12:28 pm):
      Can you tell me what oil to use and how much in each port? I just picked up a 60 and am trying to figure it out.
      Thanks.

      • Feist (May 12, 2018 at 3:17 pm):
        I’m sorry, I don’t have that info. I just put a few drops in each very infrequently.

• Herbert Lesser (December 25, 2017 at 1:43 pm):
  I have a Model 6 and can’t find any info.

• Michael Campbell (November 25, 2018 at 11:45 pm):
  How much is a Victor Model 40, 16mm projector Animatophone Type 13 worth?

• George (May 8, 2020 at 10:15 am):
  Victor Animatograph Model 40 16mm projector: I am in need of a motor drive belt (not the spring type).
  Belt circumference = 20 inches
  Diameter = 6 inches
  Shape is a slight “V” – outer flat surface is 1/4” wide; inner flat surface is approximately 1/16 inches wide.

• Randall St Pierre (July 6, 2020 at 12:48 pm):
  I have a tweed Victor External Speaker cabinet that goes with your Victor Model 40 Projector. It is the standalone cabinet with the Victor grill and grill cover. Original 12” speaker with transformer and wiring with connector. All original from 1938-1942(?). It’s in real good condition, and I don’t want to just throw it away. It seems very rare.
  Can you advise on where I might be able to sell the unit so it gets to a good home for antiques preservation?

• Ed Elfstrom (December 13, 2021 at 2:31 pm):
  Thanks for all your information. I’m restoring a Victor Model 60B projector and really needed that info.

• Gaston (August 26, 2023 at 8:58 am):
  Buen día, saludos desde Argentina Buenos Aires. Muy linda la historia familiar que tiene tu proyector.
  Soy Gastón Giavino y amo estos equipos. Te escribo porque he comprado un amplificador solamente, igual al que tienes, y lo estoy restaurando para que quede en mi colección. Pero me falta el esquema eléctrico que venía en la valija. ¿Serías tan amable, si está en tus posibilidades, de escanearla y enviármela? Si esto no es posible, te agradezco todo el contenido compartido que has expuesto.
  ¡Saludos!

• David Calhoun (January 8, 2024 at 3:36 pm):
  These were the school machines of my Idaho ’45 – ’57 youth, and I loved ’em. Their one unique feature amongst B&H and MovieMites and others of the period was the clutch between the drive motor and the film feed, with two mechanical sensor levers above and below the optical gate. For pictures, the film movement is jerky, while for audio, it must be smooth, so there are loops of film above and below the gate which must not be lost, or the advance claws will chew up the film. Sometimes things would slip – so if either loop was lost, the film would yank the lever and disengage the clutch, sparing the film. I lugged these around through my high school years.