Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse for the Kodak Carousel Projector.

I didn’t own one Kodak Carousel projector; I owned about 5 different models over the 40+ years they were manufactured! It was 1961 when the first Kodak Carousel Projector, model 550 came onto the scene. It used the round tray or Carousel to hold your slides. Over the years Carousel projectors added feature after feature such as remote control, a very reliable gravity drop slide system, angled back-lit control panels and long-life projector bulbs. I traveled with a Kodak Carousel back when I was putting on my Backstage at MAD Magazine Slide Show. When the high capacity trays came along, it was great. Instead of needing three standard 80 trays, I was able to get my show on two 140 slide trays. Then Kodak made projectors that allowed the slide tray to be removed even when the power was off. Deluxe models offered remote focusing along with useful features like forward/reverse slide change in a hard-wired control. A great feature added later on was the dark screen shutter that automatically blocked the light when there was no slide being projected. It was really jarring to be sitting in a dark room when a bright light would suddenly come on when the last slide passed. Another convenient feature: the remote control and the power cord stored in the base of the projector. Older Kodak Carousel Projector used a 500-watt lamp, and had a high/low switch. Then Kodak switched to a 300-watt, 70-hour ELH lamp with an on/off/fan switch.  Later, new bulbs lasted about twice as long, approximately 140 hours. The most expensive model I owned was the Carousel model 5600. It had deluxe features a built-in screen viewer and a built in light outlet. You plugged a lamp right into the back of the projector. The lamp went off automatically when the projector went on, and came back on when you shut the projector off. No more fumbling for a light switch in the dark. There was also auto-focus and even a built in reading light so you could see your notes as you projected your slides. I can’t remember exactly what I paid for it, but the MSRP was a huge $732.00! In 2004, Kodak manufactured its last Carousel projector.

See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1335  

This link usually goes live on Sunday afternoon, the day after we record the Netcast.

Info on the game that encourages kids to eat properly that our letter of week referred to is here:

http://crunchacolor.com