Brackett Dissolver Stereo Projector
Model XB (Extra Bright)
AS NEW - Previously owned/never used
Conceived in the mid-1980s by retired Polaroid engineer, Bob Brackett, and first produced in 1988, a total of only 89 projectors were sold before production ceased.
The dissolving projector is actually two stereo slide projectors designed with a dissolve function that smoothly transitions from one slide to the next, making stereo slide shows much more enjoyable. The dissolve transition is a professional projection technique that blends one image into the next image while reducing audience eye fatigue.
Refined from four previous generations of Dissolvers. The Dissolver XB utlilizes the same illumination system (82volt) EXW lamps used in Kodak Ektagraphic projectors with new "bright lamp" modules, making this the brightest Dissolver ever made. This will produce a 113% increase in brightness over the previous ELH illumination based Fader and Dissolver systems.
A new "optic cage" design, contains condenser lenses, hot mirrors in place of older heat absorbers, and polarizers. This design utilizes the entire rectangular condenser lens surface to eliminate corner vignetting with the widest aperture RBT or equivalent 33mm wide stereomounts.
Boroflote hot-mirrors reflect harmful infrared radiation, allowing only visible light frequencies to pass to the emulsion. Production measurements indicate only 5% visible light loss, compared to more than 33% with traditional heat absorbers. Ample fan cooling provides a cool temperature range at the film plane.
Refinements to the focus system provide the smoothest, most precise adjustment, by direct gear drive to the lens rack, through concentric shafts. Dissolver XB slide registration has been refined and optimized for precision plastic, metal or cardboard stereomounts. Lower cost non-precision cardboard heat-seal and slip-in mounts can also be used. All types of mounts are accurately held against the carrier plate for a common reference plane, providing higher accuracy and repeatability, from slide to slide.
4in x 6in angled slide tray holders on the top of the Dissolver are sized for commonly found 4in x 5in plastic picture frames, optimum for holding 41 x 101 format stereomounts. Optics: Four matched, turned-down (to fit interlens mount distance) modified Kodak f3.5 / 75mm-120mm zooms.
Heat absorbers and condenser lenses remove the heat and direct the light through precisely oriented polarizing filters. The cooled polarized light beam passes through the slide and into the projection lens where an image is focused into the screen. Two fans run continuously to cool the slide, optics, and lamps. Dissolves are accomplished by fading out one pair of lamps, projecting the first slide, while simultaneously fading on the other pair of lamps, projecting the second slide. The dissolve is performed by rotating the dissolve lever located at the top of the projector.
You can dissolve from one slide to the other. This is done manually, which gives you total artistic control over the end result. The projector was made by the legendary Bob Brackett, using a custom-constructed metal case to hold standard Kodak parts, like lenses, condensers, heat filters and halogen bulbs.This projector has long been considered the top of the line stereo projector used in all NSA and PSA conventions.
The Brackett Dissolve accepts standard Realist format slides (4" x 1 5/8", 41x101mm) up to seven sprocket size mounted in glass, plastic or cardboard.The Brackett Dissolver is manually operated and gives the operator total artistic control over dissolve rate and other projection techniques.