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2026-05-31 - Excel Model 85-U 16mm Movie Projector

 

The Excel Model 85-U is a 16mm silent movie projector manufactured by the Excel Projector Corporation (later Excel Movie Products, Inc.) in Chicago, Illinois. These compact machines were produced from the 1930s to the 1940s.

Key Features:

  • Film Format: Standard 16mm Safety Film only.
  • Power: Operates on 110V AC, with a power consumption of approximately 130 watts.
  • Drive: Powered by an internal motor that relies on external spring-belt drives to spin the feed and take-up reels.
  • Features: Typically equipped with a 2-inch removable focusing lens, tilting device for angle adjustment, an internal fan for cooling the lamp, and an accessible spring belt drive.
  • Construction: Often finished in a black or dark enamel, typical of the Art Deco styling of the 1930s and early 1940s. 


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