Restoration begins on Ed Reitan's CTC-7 - Page 5 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Kevin Kuehn · #1 10-13-2017, 11:45 AM

Those screen shots are astonishing! I assume we hobbyists are probably in the minority to experience such a high level of picture quality on these old roundy set's. Short of a studio monitor, there was never any OTA source material that could rival our modern video sources we have available today.

benman94 · #2 10-13-2017, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

Those screen shots are astonishing! I assume we hobbyists are probably in the minority to experience such a high level of picture quality on these old roundy set's. Short of a studio monitor, there was never any OTA source material that could rival our modern video sources we have available today.

I don't think there were any video sources circa 1958, aside from a dedicated color bar generator, that could produce an image that good. Tape was noisy, the cameras themselves were noisy, the film chain cameras were very noisy from what I've been told, etc

My father was thrilled when Laserdisc, and then DVD, finally came out. We truly are seeing these sets with an image quality that never could have been achieved prior to about 20 or 30 years ago.

old_tv_nut · #3 10-13-2017, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benman94

I don't think there were any video sources circa 1958, aside from a dedicated color bar generator, that could produce an image that good. Tape was noisy, the cameras themselves were noisy, the film chain cameras were very noisy from what I've been told, etc

Film chains were the least noisy, because a lot of light could be poured into the vidicon pickup tubes. Image orthicons had a noise floor due to beam current noise (basic quantum electron-count noise). The live-camera noise problem wasn't solved until the Plumbicon tube came along in the 60's.

benman94 · #4 10-13-2017, 11:37 AM

The set looks stunning Marshall, simply stunning. The screenshot from the Red Shoes with Shearer and Helpmann in full makeup takes the cake for me. The quality of the fleshtones is unreal, and I'm even more impressed that the paler makeup of Halpmann is so easily distinguished: I've seen more than a few sets that render those fleshtones as more or less identical in that scene.

etype2 · #5 05-25-2020, 01:07 PM

WISCOJIM · #6 05-25-2020, 01:15 PM

Very impressive!

old_tv_nut · #7 05-25-2020, 02:05 PM

Very, very nice! Did you pause the playback to take these shots?

Steve D. · #8 05-25-2020, 02:15 PM

Marshall,

As usual, the Worthington doesn't disappoint. Ed would be amazed at what you & Mike have been able to achieve in restoring this set. Thanks for the update & the stunning photos. The Red Shoes is a great example of the Technicolor process. And British Technicolor always seemed to go a step further in presenting that process.

-Steve D.

etype2 · #9 05-25-2020, 02:39 PM

Thank you guys. Yes, I paused each shot. The lighting conditions aren’t the greatest, florescent, (it was a shaded lamp which warmed it up) overhead LED dimmer controlled. I needed to get a bit of light to illuminate the cabinet, but not to the point of ruining the contrast of the screen. I should buy a light screen Steve suggested. I used a grey card to set white balance.

I hope Ed would be proud. Thanks to a generous collector, I have Ed’s restored “An Evening With Fred Astaire” on DVD which I play on his set. Ironically, both debuted in 1958. The Producer/Director (Powell and Pressburger) of The Red Shoes were also involved with “Black Narcissus” another example of three strip Technicolor. That film may be to dark for some.

Telecolor 3007 · #10 05-26-2020, 06:40 AM

Thanks for mentiong the name of the movie... 'cause I was curios who the rehdead was.
These old sets are like ginger/redhead females.

etype2 · #11 05-26-2020, 10:58 AM

Moria Shearer: From IMDb, Arthur Freed wanted her to play opposite Fred Astaire in Royal Wedding (1951) but Astaire was reluctant to dance with a ballerina. Gene Kelly asked for her for Brigadoon (1954). She turned down both film opportunities, much preferring the classical stage in those years. She went on to play "Titania" in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in her Broadway debut and the title role in "Major Barbara".

Popester · #12 05-26-2020, 04:27 PM

Marshall, those images are very nice. I have a question, actually a couple. I notice in the top left off the screen in the glass a triangular reflection is that your tripod legs? How frequent do you power up the set and when you do is it run for awhile to keep the electrolytics in good form?

etype2 · #13 05-26-2020, 06:12 PM

John,

Yes, that reflection is from the tripod. The Worthington hasn’t been used much recently because of preoccupation with the Westy restoration. I do try to turn on my consoles once a month or so. They are used mainly for demos when friends, family come over. Never more than two hours at a time. Will the Arizona dry climate have an adverse effect on the parts? We are entering our “oven” which lasts till early October. During this time, the night time temps only go down to upper 70’s and consistent 100+ days. The inside house temp is maintained at 79F, 25 to 30% humidity in Summer.

sampson159 · #14 05-27-2020, 10:35 AM

stunning pictures!i cant believe how beautiful it is.well
done!

etype2 · #15 05-28-2020, 08:50 PM

Thank you. Just want to add that all 27 images were taken with the same setting. The movie has a wide range of lighting conditions from outdoor, low sun angles too low light indoor scenes.