Museum pieces

[DrV]

I know there was a topic full of these pics but I cant find it. Anyway, spotted this

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mh1912txtnkeds7/OperaHouseTWells.jpg?dl=0

 

at the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells today. It is now a Wetherspoons so, unlike most museums, has the added advantage that it serves a surprisingly decent pint. Apparently they stage one opera a year but I'm guessing they bring in slightly more modern lighting controls?

 

Dave

[sunray]

I know there was a topic full of these pics but I cant find it. Anyway, spotted this

 

https://www.dropbox....TWells.jpg?dl=0

 

at the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells today. It is now a Wetherspoons so, unlike most museums, has the added advantage that it serves a surprisingly decent pint. Apparently they stage one opera a year but I'm guessing they bring in slightly more modern lighting controls

 

Dave

 

I've used one of those in the 'Medway Little Theatre', it was originally rescued from the old 'Empire Theatre'. There were 3 rows of dimmers and a single wheel which drove all control bars via sprockets and chains but didn't have anything like the front mounted wheels. The top section with fuses etc. had been removed and blanked off with a board which I suspect was asbestos and was used as a chalk board.

 

I was only talking about it recently to someone so thanks for the pic, I can now show him.

 

 

 

 

Edit: In fact I can go one better, we will be in Tonbridge next week and I fell a pint with him coming our way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[paulears]

Still got ours sitting where it was put n 1958.

[Jivemaster]

The next school to mine had one of those, I used it a few times. My school had a Furse board in the boys' hall and a Strand board in the girls' hall.

[matt c]

How very interesting...

 

I note that one or two of what look like the operating arms coming off the horizontal drive shafts are in slightly different positions.

 

Does anyone know if this is some kind of mechanical preset system?

[paulears]

The handles screw down onto the shaft - so if you tighten them, you can rotate the big wheels and pull up or down all the dimmers on that shaft, and by connecting the shafts together - on a chain drive on mine, you can fade everything out - if you have the muscles. The round switches - one for each dimmer have three positions - full on - off - dimmer, so you can disconnect the dimmer from the circuit, and set a level, then switch to it - there's an annoying flicker as it goes past off. My ones were labelled so that you had control of 3 circuits for the floats, three compartment battens, plus cyc floods, and a few specials on stage, plus 10 circuits front of house - with sockets paired left and right.

[vinntec]

Still got ours sitting where it was put n 1958.

The OP's board looks like a small Grand Master (or the right-hand part might be missing). The one Paul shows here is a Senior Sunset. We had one of these at my old school, except our one was 28 channels whereas Paul's was 36. Our repertoire included lighting for rock bands using this old desk, all manual with no gizmos to help.

[sunray]

I know there was a topic full of these pics but I cant find it. Anyway, spotted this

 

https://www.dropbox....TWells.jpg?dl=0

 

at the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells today. It is now a Wetherspoons so, unlike most museums, has the added advantage that it serves a surprisingly decent pint. Apparently they stage one opera a year but I'm guessing they bring in slightly more modern lighting controls��

 

Dave

 

I've used one of those in the 'Medway Little Theatre', it was originally rescued from the old 'Empire Theatre'. There were 3 rows of dimmers and a single wheel which drove all control bars via sprockets and chains but didn't have anything like the front mounted wheels. The top section with fuses etc. had been removed and blanked off with a board which I suspect was asbestos and was used as a chalk board.

 

I was only talking about it recently to someone so thanks for the pic, I can now show him.

 

 

 

 

Edit: In fact I can go one better, we will be in Tonbridge next week and I fell a pint with him coming our way.

 

Well there we have it, this reminded me to get in touch with an old friend. I mentioned this thread and he knew more about the history of the dimmers, apparently the rack was originally 3 bays (potentially 54 circuits?). We only one of the coloured handles which was on the end of the centre bar, the others were spread out on the other sections installed in other venues.

[itiba]

Apparently they stage one opera a year but I'm guessing they bring in slightly more modern lighting controls?

 

 

Aha as you asked... in 2010 we used a Strand GSX, 2011 - 2016 was an Ion. We used to get in over night Tues-Thurs before a double show on Sunday so finishing at 8am and being able to have a pint was quite an experience.

[James]

Apparently they stage one opera a year but I'm guessing they bring in slightly more modern lighting controls?

 

 

Aha as you asked... in 2010 we used a Strand GSX, 2011 - 2016 was an Ion. We used to get in over night Tues-Thurs before a double show on Sunday so finishing at 8am and being able to have a pint was quite an experience.

 

This sounds fascinating, Do you have any show pictures?

 

James.

[DrV]

Yes, pictures please! The venue looks fabulous - very 'Edwardian Music Hall'. Do you leave the steps up to the stage in place or is that used as an orchestra pit? I'd be very interested to come down and see a performance. When is the next one?

Dave