Phonoland

I bought a mills panoram out of a basement this weekend and I have never seen one before. And there's not much on the web about it. As far as how it works or repair. I'm scared to plug it in because I don't know how it works. Has anyone here ever messed with one of these machines or have any hints on how to get it up and running? Is this a pretty common machine? Thanks for your help.

Hi Junkman,
I would advise you NOT to "plug it in"--yet. I don't know what your "skill level" is, but someone who is familiar with old "electronics" should at least check it for "safety"--first.
You might try contacting Bill Butterfield, as he has a lot of this era "stuff". He's listed above in "where to find-used--parts--" Ron Rich

First thing is you will need the manual for it which you can buy from either Victory Glass or Always Jukin:

# 71-1266 (R-141) Mills Panoram of 1938-1944 Installation/Operation manual, $10.00

Ebay seller Jeff Wager sells the 40 page Service Manual:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mills-Panoram-S ... 334e214cc1

The machine uses a custom made 16mm sound projector and seperate amplifier both made by RCA. The projector model is MI-1340-A. This is the projector that eventually became RCA's famous "400" series projector in schools during the 1950's and 1960's. RCA refined the projector and changed the paint color from black to green to become the 400 series projectors. The film is on a special "endless loop" reel.

If you need any parts for the projector, I suggest you join the forums at http://16mmfilmtalk.com Several of the forum members there stock RCA projector parts.

Certainly the amplifier is now over 70 years old and will need to be recapped before even plugging it in. New capacitors are going to definitely be needed in it as well as checking for any resistors that have drifted off value over the years.

Ken, and All,
I LOVE the "warning sign" on this--How many times can "slow burning film" be run through this projector-vs. "fast burning" film ?? Ron Rich

At the time, Russia was manufacturing NITRATE 16mm film which of course burnt as fast as gasoline like it's 35mm cousin. Kodak only made 16mm film in slow burning "safety" film (acetate). Hence the warning label on the projector. RCA rigged up the projector with automatic trip microswitches to stop the projector in the event of a film jam, loss of loops, or film break much like modern theater 35mm projectors have today.

I believe the RCA projector uses a type "DDB" 750 watt incandescent projection lamp which is still commonly available from many online photolamp dealers.

Projector has a # 927 phototube and a type "BGB" exciter lamp for sound pickup.

RCA Type MO-54 Amplifier (model 470 Panoram) uses these tubes:

(1) 5Z3 Rectifier
(1) 6J7 Phototube preamp
(1) 6J5 Second preamp
(1) 6N7 Phase Inverter
(2) 6L6 Outputs, Push-Pull
(1) 6F6 Exciter Lamp Oscillator

The Panoram is patent # D123473. There was an optional remote selector (wallbox) made for the Panoram (patent # 2365859). In 1946 the Panoram was replaced by the Mills "Sono-Vision" (patent # D144702) which was a repackaged Panoram with an Ampro 16mm projector instead of RCA.

The Panoram played 16mm films called "Soundies". Here is a book written about them:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Soundies-Book ... 0595679692

Panoram website:

http://www.millspanoram.com/

http://www.jayandwanda.com/panoram/panoram.html