Bauer B14

Bauer B14, 35 mm projector with lamp housing. Two machines were run together. Each reel was usually 20 minutes, and each film therefore on 5–10 reels. When dots appeared in the upper corner of the screen, the projectionist would start the projector that was not currently in use. When the next dot appeared, he would press a button or turn a crank that would then cut off the picture and sound of the projector being used and switch it over to the other projector. This way, a full-length film could be shown, and moviegoers were not supposed to notice anything. The projectors were originally used at Kópavogsbíó in Hamraborg and were in use there from March 20, 1959, until Kópavogsbíó was closed in 1975. Sigurjón Jóhannsson was later hired to restore the projectors for Bæjarbíó. He installed all modern equipment in the projectors, such as xenon lamps, stereo solar cells, and frequency control for the motor, but took care to maintain the original appearance of the projectors and the lamp housing. Sigurjón finished restoring the projectors in 2004, and they were then installed at Bæjarbíó. The projectors were in use at Bæjarbíó until 2014, when the theater's screenings were discontinued. The projectors were taken down from Bæjarbíó in 2016 and moved to the Film Archive. Bauer produced several types of these projectors. Four identical projectors of this size were imported into the country; they were the largest and most expensive 35mm projectors that Bauer produced. The projectors were purchased for Kópavogsbíó and Austurbæjarbíó. The machines are considered to be the best for film archives for exhibition as they are very reliable to operate, with large take-up reels and good film flow through. Furthermore, many such machines were produced, and therefore spare parts are easy to obtain.