Old Toy Projectors
This morning before heading down to FTI I stopped by a carpark swapmeet and came across this old projector from the 1950's. It's an intriguing device. It came with 10 roles of 35mm film that are inserted into the bottom of the projector and then hand wound through with the red button, the film rerolls into the top metal arm.It came with the full set of instructions and all it's labels were intacted.
So what is it exactly you may be asking?It's a Roama Projector model 5A from 1953, made by the Maxcraft Projection Manufacturing Company and distrubuted by the Boyd Trading company of 131 Lennox Street of Richmond Victoria.
There were 36 films available for purchace either in a set of six or individually. Eight of the ten films that came with my purchace are from the 36 available, the ninth was an advertisement for the series and the tenth was from another collection. The paperwork for each of the films from the Maxcraft collection was also included.
I couldn't find out much about these projectors online, only this French site had any information, including a picture of the Roama 5A that is identical to mine in the Australian section. You can read the site in English if you use Alta Vista's Babel Fish to translate. Apparently their orginal retail price was 6 shillings.
Amazingly the Projector was in perfect working order, the globe works, the power supply was fine. We just switched it on and used it straight away.
The films are all cartoons, or comic strips would be a better drescrition. Amongst my collections is 'Bluey Steel and the Crooked Sherif', 'Bluey Streel and a Gold mine', 'Big Dan and his Gang', 'Dale Carter and the Plane Robbers', 'Dale Carter and the Smugglers', 'Wings', 'The Man with Two Minds' and 'Pirate Gold'.
The other film included is 'Flynn of the FBI' made by Visual Toys Pty Ltd, you can find out more about this title at the Comics Down Under Blog.
In two weeks time the 24 hour Comic Festival is going to be on here at FTI, this new toy will be fun to play with at that event.
If you know anything more about this type of projector or the films included feel free to add your comments in the comment section.
Amazingly the Projector was in perfect working order, the globe works, the power supply was fine. We just switched it on and used it straight away.
The films are all cartoons, or comic strips would be a better drescrition. Amongst my collections is 'Bluey Steel and the Crooked Sherif', 'Bluey Streel and a Gold mine', 'Big Dan and his Gang', 'Dale Carter and the Plane Robbers', 'Dale Carter and the Smugglers', 'Wings', 'The Man with Two Minds' and 'Pirate Gold'. The other film included is 'Flynn of the FBI' made by Visual Toys Pty Ltd, you can find out more about this title at the Comics Down Under Blog.
In two weeks time the 24 hour Comic Festival is going to be on here at FTI, this new toy will be fun to play with at that event.
If you know anything more about this type of projector or the films included feel free to add your comments in the comment section.
Hi,
My Father and i were just cleaning ot his shead and we have found a projecor similar to this one there is dozens of tittles with it it is called the Ashleigh Film strip projector also distributed by the boyd trading company. Dad Believes he bought it in the early 1950's.
what is a device such as this worth?
That's a good question?
I bought mine for $75.00 and it had around ten films included. The Gentleman originally wanted $150.00 so I was happy with my bartering.
The only other thing I have found is one being sold on E-BAy from Queensland, a few months before i found mine. it looks like it sold for $20.00, but it didn't have any films included.