recordak projector
Datecirca 1930
Inventory Number1998-1-1620
ClassificationProjector
Subject
Maker
Recordak Corporation
founded 1928
User
Houghton Library, Harvard University
founded 1942
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions57.2 × 71.2 × 38 cm (22 1/2 × 28 1/16 × 14 15/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA micro-film projector featuring five components: base, box, brace and spools, screen, and hood. The base is simply a rectangular plank. The rectangular box sits on the back two-thirds of the base. The front of the box is a rectangular plank, with a small switch in the bottom left corner. Attached at the center of the front plank is a brace that branches off in two directions at a right angle. At the ends of each of these two branches is a spool, one white and the other black. Above the box is a square gray screen, tilted up at a roughly 50 degree angle from the perfectly horizontal box. The box and the screen are covered on three sides by a hood: the back, the left, and the right. (From the side, the irregularly pentagonal shape of the hood is that of a round-cut diamond seen from the side.) On either side of the hood can be found the object's name.
Signedon side, in beige lettering with black outline: RECORDAK
Inscribedon side, in beige lettering with black outline: RECORDAK / Projector / ACCOUNTING BY PHOTOGRAPHY
Curatorial RemarksTag attached to instrument says: "Used at the Houghton Library from about 1950 by Jacob Blanck, editor of the Bibliography of American Literature (BAL). Constructed c. 1930-40? Transferred to the Collection on 1-12-90 by Roger Stoddard. Used for reading insurance microfilm at the Bibliography BEFORE MAILING TO PRINTER."
Also, as of 02-19-09, 'Accessories' field read, "Table on which instrument sits is not original."
FunctionIn 1928, the Recordak Corporation, a newly-created subsidiary of Kodak, introduced the first microfilm projection system designed to project still images captured on small rolls of film onto a large screen. Recordak marketed these devices as tools to simplify access to and storage of banking records such as cheques.
This object was likely one of their earlier models. The image recorded on the film would be wound appropriately around the spools and the switch would be toggled, presumably turning on a light source inside the object. It is not exactly clear how the image would then be enlarged onto the screen. It is possible that components of the apparatus are missing.
This object was likely one of their earlier models. The image recorded on the film would be wound appropriately around the spools and the switch would be toggled, presumably turning on a light source inside the object. It is not exactly clear how the image would then be enlarged onto the screen. It is possible that components of the apparatus are missing.
ProvenanceFrom the Houghton Library, Harvard University.
A. Nachet
Date: 1880-1890
Accessories: 1 Objective # 2 with society thread; 1 projection eyepiece; mechanical stage; split aperture epi illuminator; no case, but came with a cover (separately cataloged as 1279b).
Object number: 1279a
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 2003
Accessories: printer ribbon, power cable, adapter cable, original packing materials, instruction manuals (in object file), and gray card (in object file)
Object number: 2009-1-0039
