16mm Projectors
Since the 1930's up to recent times, 16mm projectors have been manufactured by different companies in a variety of models. Here in the U.S., a new 16mm projector is not so easy to find, but they can be found in Europe and in Asia. Your options may be limited here, but if you have to have a 16mm film projector then you will have to buy a used one.
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In our digital age, it is absolutely astounding how much there is to do when getting a 16mm projector to work. It seems that the only thing earlier 16mm projectors had in common was how to clean them. Because of this, in the early 1980's, manufacturers made their models easier to use by making them automated. This made them nearly goof-proof.
16m projectors are a favorite item for avid film collectors. Most collectors love them because they can be tinkered with and are a pleasure to operate. It's almost as if collectors only realize a 16mm projector can do other things after they have broken it apart, reassembled it, repaired it and get it running again. They don't necessarily care about what parts are needed like lighting, as long as they have the actual machine in their hands. Collectors want the projector because they have to have it.
16mm projectors can still be rented, but the prices vary. Prices might also be affected depending on what type of movie you are trying to watch. Generally, it costs about $20 dollars to rent a 16mm projector for a day. Of course, a 35mm projector will cost you more if that is what you want instead. Renting other items for a 16mm projector, like a screen, can also affect the end price of your rental.
16mm silent film format was originally designed for families, interested in making home movies. By the 30's though, they began to be seen as another tool for the educational industry. In 1935, Kodachrome gave way to a whole new genre when they added optical sound to the 16mm market. 16mm films were used by both sides in World War II. We saw the first signs of the movie medium being used for propaganda by the Nazi's and we saw news reels bringing back stories from the war front. We also saw a huge boom to the movie industry because of it after the war. In the 1950's and 60's, 16mm films were used by governments, businesses, educational institutions and other industries to get out information or to train their employees. This gave jobs for producers, writers, filmmakers, and the list goes on; creating one of the most lucrative industries in the world. 16mm film usge was helped out by television since it was cheaper and easier to manage than 35mm. 16mm was originally used as a way of getting news stories told but because of it's cost effectiveness, it also made it easier for production companies to move outside to different locations, away from the studios. As technology has advanced and become cheaper, we have seen the fade out of 16mm film and their projectors replaced in the past with the 8mm and Super 8mm formats, but that doesn't stop the collector from feeling nostalgic every time they come across one.
