Viewlex Super
Sound
- Marketed circa 1966, Viewlex Inc made the first 8-mm cine projector
for the M format, also called Maurer 8 format. This film format
was designed by engineer John A. Maurer in the early sixties with the idea of
adding a optical soundtrack to he 8-mm film format. For this new format, the
sprocket holes were reduced in size, were made more narrow than standard 8 mm.
Thus the soundtrack was put on a strip between the sprocket holes and the edge
of the film, and the frame was 16% larger than standard 8 mm.
- Viewlex Super Sound was made for optical and magnetic sound
playback, but not for sound recording. It has a input jack of microphone for
public address. The lamp is low voltage, 150W, 21.5V. Amplifier:
transistorized. Amplifier output: 6W.
Reel capacity: 200m. Projection speed: 16 (silent film speed) and 24 fps (sound
film speed). Picture/sound distance: 56 frames (magnetic sound), 52
frames (optical sound). Built-in speaker in the projector cover. The
projection is capable of showing standard 8 and Maurer 8 films. Located atop
the film gate area is a slide lever which changes the film aperture size from
convetional 8 mm to the larger optical sound 8 mm frame size.
- US patent 3,404,937, Motion picture projection
using optical and magnetic sound tracks, filed May 13 1965, publication date
October 8 1968, Ben Peirez and Marvin I. Mindell (Great Neck, New York),
assignors to Viewlex Inc, Holbrok, New York. "This invention relates to
motion picture projectors and more particularly to such a projectors which are
adapted to use both optical and magnetic sound tracks. Recently 8 mm, film has been
developed using optical sound tracks, and therefore there is a need for motion
picture projector means which are adapted to receive both the optical sound
track and the magnetic sound track. [...] The 8 milimeter sound projector of
the present invention represents a novel development in 8 mm sound motion
picture projection. The projection is capable os showing 8 mm. silent, 8 mm.
magnetic sound, 8 mm. optical sound films. The new 8 milimeter optical sound system
features larger picture area and high quality sound. Sound on the film is
derived from a sound track similar to the sound track which now appears on
conventional 16 milimeter and 35 milimeter sound films. [...] FIGURE 6 shows
the configuration of the 8 mm. sound film per SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture
and Television Engineers) -ASA (American Standards Association) standard for 8
mm. optical and magnetic film. In each case the sound track T is carried on a
strip between the sprocket holes and the edge of the film."