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Post by Ron Walker on Apr 18, 2022 17:37:10 GMT -7
Posted by: moonmagic May 11 2011, 01:29 PM yes, we would all like to see and hear more about it. Very cool projector and neat concept.mm
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Post by Ron Walker on Apr 18, 2022 17:37:27 GMT -7
Posted by: Charlie Miller Jun 28 2011, 06:38 PM Mr. Hicks,
If my memory serves (uh, sometimes questionable) I was an avid reader of the S&T article on the new Vanderbilt planetarium and recalled that you were the driving force. Reading about that then state-of-the-art Goto planetarium was just great for an impressionable teen.
Now I'm trying to start up my own modest planetarium facility, using a Spitz A4. Still at the starting block in many ways, though I've got a website up (www.IowaSpaceScience.org). Ponying up the nearly $1k fee for IRS non-profit filing is putting me in a sour mood, tho!
Fun to read your posts; am so glad this blog site exists!
Charlie Miller (amateur planetarium builder and occasional Spitz A4 restorer) Iowa City, IA
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Post by Ron Walker on Apr 18, 2022 17:37:45 GMT -7
Posted by: Ken Miller Jun 29 2011, 12:28 PM QUOTE(Charlie Miller @ Jun 28 2011, 06:38 PM) * Mr. Hicks,
If my memory serves (uh, sometimes questionable) I was an avid reader of the S&T article on the new Vanderbilt planetarium and recalled that you were the driving force. Reading about that then state-of-the-art Goto planetarium was just great for an impressionable teen.
Now I'm trying to start up my own modest planetarium facility, using a Spitz A4. Still at the starting block in many ways, though I've got a website up (www.IowaSpaceScience.org). Ponying up the nearly $1k fee for IRS non-profit filing is putting me in a sour mood, tho!
Fun to read your posts; am so glad this blog site exists!
Charlie Miller (amateur planetarium builder and occasional Spitz A4 restorer) Iowa City, IA The forum statistics show that Mr. Hicks has not visited for more than 2 years. I was excited about his project, and I'm disappointed to see him drop out.
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Post by Ron Walker on Apr 18, 2022 17:38:01 GMT -7
Posted by: Charlie Miller Jun 29 2011, 12:36 PM QUOTE(Ken Miller @ Jun 29 2011, 02:28 PM) * The forum statistics show that Mr. Hicks has not visited for more than 2 years. I was excited about his project, and I'm disappointed to see him drop out.
Oh... duh. Sorry about that. My excitement got in the way of the simple act of checking dates! (!)
Thanks for the heads up on that!
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Post by Ron Walker on Apr 18, 2022 17:38:18 GMT -7
Posted by: Dwight Gruber Dec 28 2011, 06:21 AM QUOTE(James Hicks @ Apr 9 2009, 04:16 PM) * All I know is that this projector was used as a "Spare" in the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. When I picked it up it was in pieces on pallets behind the OMSI Omnimax dome. I purchased it for $1,500 dollars through Jim Todd, the new planetarium director at OMSI it appears to be complete with some additional modifications of individual star projectors for the brighter stars. It is only missing the daylight lamps and control console.
I was poking around the internet and ran into this Forum, I hope the thread isn't too ancient.
I worked at OMSI's H.C. Kendall Planetarium in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Goto "Mars" M-1 planetarium was actually a prototype of the model, the production model was enough different that parts did not interchange. At some point during that time (can't tell you exact years here) we were about to run out of star ball lamps--huge envelopes with Gordian-knot filaments--and Goto didn't have any replacements that would fit. They would have had to make them from scratch, and weren't interested in doing so. We made adaptors for 500W quartz/halogen projector lamps as replacements. They had tiny coiled filaments, and made a really nice sky. Bruce Spainhower did the engineering for this. The only problem was that quartz lamps are really hot, and after running for awhile the star balls were hot to the touch even with fans.
The star plates were made from delicate, thin metal foil, and after years of heat cyclling we got tired of spotting out the cracks which inevitably appeared. We asked Goto if we could buy a new set, an they replied we could, but delivery would take awhile as they had to recreate them by hand.
During that time we also completely renovated the theater with a new pedistal, planetarium and special effects control console, and complete rewiring. The actual rheostat instrument controls were incorporated in the new console, and the old panel simply went away. Whatever happened to the daylight lamps was after my time.
This Goto Mars was not really a "spare" at OMSI. The instrument was designed and optimized for a 36' dome, and at the old H.C. Kendall theater our 40' dome was pushing its limits. When OMSI moved from Portland's West Hills to a new facility on the waterfront, the facility was designed with a 50' dome--way too big for the optics of the Goto. In 1999 they replaced it with a Digistar, and the Goto simply became surplus.
--Dwight Gruber
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Post by Ron Walker on Apr 18, 2022 17:38:39 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Dec 28 2011, 10:41 AM QUOTE(Dwight Gruber @ Dec 28 2011, 06:21 AM) * I was poking around the internet and ran into this Forum, I hope the thread isn't too ancient.
I worked at OMSI's H.C. Kendall Planetarium in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Goto "Mars" M-1 planetarium was actually a prototype of the model, the production model was enough different that parts did not interchange. At some point during that time (can't tell you exact years here) we were about to run out of star ball lamps--huge envelopes with Gordian-knot filaments--and Goto didn't have any replacements that would fit. They would have had to make them from scratch, and weren't interested in doing so. We made adaptors for 500W quartz/halogen projector lamps as replacements. They had tiny coiled filaments, and made a really nice sky. Bruce Spainhower did the engineering for this. The only problem was that quartz lamps are really hot, and after running for awhile the star balls were hot to the touch even with fans.
The star plates were made from delicate, thin metal foil, and after years of heat cyclling we got tired of spotting out the cracks which inevitably appeared. We asked Goto if we could buy a new set, an they replied we could, but delivery would take awhile as they had to recreate them by hand.
During that time we also completely renovated the theater with a new pedistal, planetarium and special effects control console, and complete rewiring. The actual rheostat instrument controls were incorporated in the new console, and the old panel simply went away. Whatever happened to the daylight lamps was after my time.
This Goto Mars was not really a "spare" at OMSI. The instrument was designed and optimized for a 36' dome, and at the old H.C. Kendall theater our 40' dome was pushing its limits. When OMSI moved from Portland's West Hills to a new facility on the waterfront, the facility was designed with a 50' dome--way too big for the optics of the Goto. In 1999 they replaced it with a Digistar, and the Goto simply became surplus.
--Dwight Gruber
Hi Dwight and welcome to OCP.
Of all the projectors that I've had a chance to play around with I have never seen two that were alike, similar but not exact. It appears that each is designed and built for each individual customer and that innovation and improvements are constantly happening.
The Minolta that I have also was converted to 500W quartz/halogen projector lamps as replacements. The quartz envelope for the lamp is much smaller as it needs to run hotter for the halogen cycle to operate. The stars project beautifully but I can see your point about the heat. On the plus side, since the bulb envelope is much smaller it is further away from the condenser elements of the star projectors and this heating is generated more by convection. The original fans appear to have been replaced by smaller units and both blow out of the globe. There are two small vents that allow replacement air in but my common sense tells me there is a better way. If this was original engineering I would leave well enough alone but the projector was modified to take the smaller bulb and fans. Looking at the placement of the fans, one is aimed directly toward the bulb itself. My gut tells me that this fan should blow in and force air directly over the bulb as is done in most projectors. The second fan should remain as an exhaust unit and thus change the air more quickly. This should keep the internal elements of the star ball at a lower temperature. Another point to consider is that since the halogen lamps run so much hotter, the base that transfers power could run too hot and deform. Not good for the socket or bulb life. I also plan to add a small computer chip fan on the inside of the unit to aim some of the cool outside air directly at the lamp base. Again I base this on the design of many projectors where forced air cooling is always supplied at the base end of the bulb.
I find it interesting that Goto would not come up with a replacement bulb and/or socket. They have a reputation for keeping any of their older projectors up and running. The fact that they would be willing to punch new star plate testifies to this. Perhaps they would make more money making the new plates and it would be worth their while. Who knows, you did what I would have done and just replaced the bulb and socket.
Again welcome to OCP and we look forward to your continued input.
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Post by Ron Walker on Apr 18, 2022 17:39:09 GMT -7
Posted by: Charlie Miller Dec 28 2011, 10:51 AM QUOTE(Ken Miller @ May 11 2011, 12:03 PM) * I wish I had a barn! I think I've said that about a dozen times already on this forum.
I light up every time I see a new reference to a planetarium in a barn.
Here's one in Romania:
I know someone in my area who owns an octagonal barn. Rents it for barn dances. But a bit out of town and out of the way.
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