9.5MM NORIS

(originally: Ernst Plank KG), after 1932 -
Noris Projektion GmbH, Hohfederstrabe 40,
D-8500 Nurenberg, West Germany

(UK Importer: Luminos Ltd,
45 Belsize Lane, Hampstead, London, N.W.3)

It was in 1866, at the age of just 22, Ernst Plank started his own business making optical and technical toys, steam engines, steam locos, steam boats and magic lanterns, which sold well around the world. With the economic slump, his company was sold to the Schaller Brothers in August 1932. Fritz and Hans Schaller turned to filmstrip/slide and movie projectors. The products were named Noris, an ancient term for the area surrounding Nurenburg, Germany; and 'Ernst Plank KG' became 'Noris Projektion GmbH'.

By 1934, the company began making the 'Noris 16' cine projector - hand turned and using the then current 'Ozophan' film. A 9.5mm version was also made available the same year. By 1938 the 'Noris Kadett' appeared, in versions for 9.5mm and 16mm. Green in colour, simple tinplate design, hand-turned, with an electric motor available as an extra. These machines were really no more than simple tin-plate toys. Little of this early Noris cine equipment was marketed in the UK.

After the war, by the early 1950s, production of these simple cine projectors began with the hand-turned 'Piccolo' and the 'Noris Junior'. A UK importer and distributor began supplying these simple cine products at quite reasonable prices, but still couldn't compete with even cheaper products like the Pathéscope "Ace".

Soon the Noris turned to the upcoming 8mm film gauge and began the design of modern, quality cine projectors. Later onto the new Super 8mm film gauge with really good sound machines. More of this can be found elsewhere on the internet - this page is really just for the 9.5mm 'holes down the middle' film gauge!

The first cine projector from Noris. A simple hand-turned machine offered in versions for the 9.5mm and 16mm film sizes. A dropper resistance provided power for the projector lamp. Thanks to German ebay I have a lovely photo of a 16mm example in nice complete condition. These machines were originally designed for 'Ozaphan' film prints, these were usually 16mm printed films, produced rather like 'diazo' transfers on a rather thin base. Generally projectors needed a slightly modified film gate. I don't think 'Ozaphan' ever appeared with 9.5mm printed films, so maybe look elsewhere for more information.

These Noris cine projectors, don't seem to have been marketed in the UK.

Probably the second cine projector from Noris. Still hand-turned, but looking more like their post-war models. Looks like it could accept spools up to perhaps 200 foot / 60 metres. Mains voltage lamp by the look of the photos.

A simple hand-turned cine projector, based on the pre-war design. Generally a grey/khaki colour tin-plate body, taking up to 100 foot / 30 metre film spools. Lighting was by a Ba15/s (A.S.CC.) base 75 watt mains voltage lamp. Just a barrel type shutter and poor quality lens. Amazingly, the 'flyer' clearly says "this is not a toy" - but the performance really couldn't compare with the Pathescope "Ace" which took 300 foot / 100 metre spools, and could have motor drive and gave a better, brighter picture, at around the same price!

9.5mm Piccolo UK marketing leaflet
(interesting that the British distributors offered a special baseboard to keep the projector steady!)

The 9.5mm Noris cine projector was launched in the UK for Christmas 1952. I have found no mention before this in the UK photographic press, but it seems the machine had been marketed in Europe in two models - hand turned or motor driven. In fact I think the hand-turned model could be upgraded with a separately supplied electric motor.

The projector was initially marketed in the UK just as the 'Noris 9.5' - but I think some years later it became the 'Noris Junior' purely because Noris were then supplying more upmarket 8mm cine projectors! It was certainly still available in 1960 as I have a letter from Pathéscope (Great Britain) Ltd offering dealers various stock at much reduced prices, and this included the 9.5mm Noris projector, which by then I guess, Pathéscope were distributing.

This Noris 9.5 projector accepted up to 400 foot / 120 metre spools, the lower (take-up) arm could be latched into two positions for 200 foot or 400 foot spools. The machine had to rest on the edge of a table for the 400 foot spools. It was fitted with an A1/21 100 watt mains voltage lamp with a Ba15/s (A.S.C.C.) base. Sadly there is no fan cooling for the lamp. There is sprocket feed and take-up, framing adjustment and power rewind. The motor drive is by spring belt - will never need replacing! The projectors were usually finished in a blue/green stove enamel finish. The lens has a 50mm focal length with an aperture of f2.5, needing quite a decent length throw for an adequate size picture.

This initial model seems to have just one switch (push button on the end of the motor casing), but later models had two switches, one white and the other black for the motor and lamp. In 1955 magazine adverts, it is referred to as the 'new Noris 9.5', so I guess by then it sported the two switches for lamp and motor. My example just has a two core mains cable, but does have the two separate switches for the motor and lamp. . The price had risen to £19-19sh by then, but this included a smart fibre carry case - useful for the projector, plus take-up spool and a spare lamp! This model was also now available in an 8mm version.

Dealer's advert in the Amateur Cine World magazine - January 1955
(although 'new' they still used the old printing block!)

Although good value, this machine didn't really perform too well. The inefficient barrel shutter meant picture brightness was none too good, I also thought the motor was not really up to the job and the motor brushes soon gave problems. However it was about half the price of the Specto and Pathéscope Gem 9.5mm projectors at that time.

Blue/green stove finish, feed and take-up sprockets, framing, variable speed motor drive, 240v 100w A1/21 B15/s lamp, not blower cooled, f2.5 50mm lens. - see ACW review November 1953 - dim picture, no height adjustment, but only £19.19shillings. Typical serial number (mine!): 3341.

Amateur Cine World magazine - November 1953
(price rose to £19- 19sh from this magazine issue, but did then include a decent fibre carry case)

Because the Noris Junior has a Ba15/s lamp base; one can use the Ba15/s to QI convertor base (as listed on my lamps sales lists) and fit an A1/220 12 volt 50 watt or A1/215 12volt 100 watt lamp. A suitable 105 watt electronic transformer will just fit in the projector base. With a couple of holes drilled in the base just below the motor; the existing lamp cable can be run into the projector base and the new lamp cable run up into the existing lamp holder. I guess the 50 watt lamp will be almost as bright as the original A1/21 lamp and give much less heat! No! I haven't tried this on mine yet, but it seems like a good simple idea. (I notice the lamp holder may need slight adjustment to get the best light output).

Here are the English instructions for the 9.5mm Noris cine projector - oddly the illustration has the motor speed control on the side of the motor casing not the rear. But the actual wording seems to be fine. I assume the image is an earlier version - not like the model marketed in the UK. However the instructions only mention one switch - the later UK models had separate motor and lamp switches.

By the mid. 1950s Noris had launched an upmarket 8mm silent cine projector. Then improved models arrived, eventually the 110 for 8mm magnetic sound. Super 8mm had arrived and the 110D was a non too successful attempt at a dual gauge std/super 8mm magnetic sound projector. The 310 was probably the best Super 8mm magnetic sound machine produced by Noris, with fancier versions like the 322 and 322S I think, with twin-track and even stereo sound. The light output from the A1/231 12 volt 100 watt QI lamp, rapid film movement and quality wide aperture lens was excellent. Once the 410 arrived, production had been changed, cheapened to drop the price a little and that really was the fnish for Noris in the quality cine projector stakes. I forget when exactly, but they must have quietly gone out of business, with Burlington Cameras buying up the remaining UK stocks. That is when I upgraded my 310 to a fancy version with twin-track and stereo using an external amplifier. The machine must still be upstairs - time for a another test run I think!

With a massive cut in production by 1980, with the advent of the video market, by around 1985 cine projector production had ceased. The company went into liquidation in 1996.

I would be most grateful for any extra details or information about Noris 9.5mm movie equipment! !

Created 27Aug2017 .......... Last updated: 25 March 2018 ............ 95gearnoris.htm ............ © Grahame L. Newnham's web pages MMXV11
03Sep2017 - Noris Kadett added