Magic lantern - Film- and slide projectors, part 2.

Film projectors and
slide projectors, part 2.

Schmalfilmprojektor VEB Zeiss Ikon Dresden - P8 suitable for showing 8mm single films. A 110V, 250W lamp is used as the light source. The position of this lamp can be optimally adjusted by means of a slidable regulator on the projector. DDR (East Germany) c. 1960. Although the manufacturer's name does not appear anywhere on the projector it is known, actually. This special projector is made by VEB Zeiss Ikon, based in Dresden. On the projector itself and on the accessories we find the well-known Zeiss trademark, the stylized Pentacon symbol, and also a sticker with the name of the supplier, Foto Hohenstein, Aschersleben, Taubenstrasse 13. Zeiss Ikon is a German company that was formed in 1926 by the merger of four camera makers. The group became one of the biggest companies in the photo technology capital Dresden, with plants in Stuttgart and Berlin. Until WWII Zeiss Ikon was the world's market leading maker of 8 mm movie cameras. After WWII Zeiss Ikon was split into a West German and an East German part. In 1948 the East German part of Zeiss Ikon became state owned. Since there were suits about trade mark names with the West German Zeiss Ikon AG, VEB Zeiss Ikon was renamed VEB Kinowerke Dresden in 1958. Later it became the main part of the East German combine 'Pentacon'. The material the projector is made of is Bakelite, the very first synthetic plastic commercially produced in 1910. The material immediately conquered the whole world and received numerous applications for industry and for the home, until it was displaced from its important place in everyday life by the emergence of new, cheaper to produce plastics. Bakelite products are still highly sought after by collectors.

The sturdy brown leather case contains a number of compartments that store inside the projector, a Bakelite box with a film rewinding device and some accessories such as a simple film editing tool, the power cord with a large, flat appliance plug and a booklet with the user manual.

When the mains power is connected via the cable with appliance plug, a pilot light under the elongated hood on top of the projector lights up, even when the switch is still in the off position. This simplifies loading the film in the dark.


The gripper mechanism is covered with a small cap that can be removed for cleaning the film channel. The photos show the two-tooth intermittent mechanism.

What makes this projector so special is the system for the feed reel and the take-up reel. Those are usually mounted on two separate arms, while here only one arm is used, on which both reels are attached next to each other. The manual clearly indicates how to insert the film. In addition, a schematic drawing of the film route is provided on the inside of the door.



The film can be shown with the projector door closed. The main switch, speed controller, and the two rotary controls for focusing and correcting the frame remain accessible.
After playing the movie the film has to be rewound. For this purpose, a foldable manual film rewind device is located in the Bakelite box.

Slide projector Filmosto Primaskop. This strikingly designed slide projector was made in Dresden in the early 1950s from black Bakelite. Complete with aluminium slide drawer, 2 slide holders (7 x 7 cm) for 35 mm slides 5 x 5 cm., A normal 100W light bulb (E27) was used as light source. The Primaskop has a bifocal condenser. The lens is a Filmostar 1: 3.5 f = 10 cm. The dimensions of the projector are: 29 x 21 x 13 cm.

Episcope Navir Craft Master. Episcope made from black plastic, made in Italy. Uses a 220 V 75 Watt bulb (Warning to not leave light on for more than 15 minutes at a time). Size c. 20 cm high, 28 cm long, 11 cm wide.

Three EKA projectors.
Three EKA projectors: a magic lantern, filmstrip projector and 16 mm film projector.
EKA magic lantern. Suitable for showing slides of 3,7 cm. Size: basis 22,5 x 12 cm, height 16,5 cm.	EKA filmstrip projector. Suitable for showing filmstrips of 35 mm and magic lantern slides of 4 cm. Size: basis 22,5 x 12 cm, height 19 cm.
EKA RECORD 16 mm toy film projector. For showing 16 mm films. Size: basis 18,5 x 10 cm. Height 20 cm incl. top reel.	EKA is an abbreviation for Eberlein & Krug, Apparatebau, Fuerth, Germany. This company was founded in 1924 and manufactured home projectors (8 mm and 16 mm, super 8 and also 35 mm) and toys until the 1970s under the EKA brand. It was located in Karolinenstraße 26/28. The company still exists as Eberlein Apparatebau GmbH in Langenzenn.