My first sound projector, bought with hard-earned cash putting up posters for my then party, the Unión de Centro Democrático (UCD) -moderate right-, was, when I was a kid, the Yashica P810, which I bought at Miguel Foto in La Coruña, Galicia, NW of Spain. It soon became too small for me and I sold it (although the buyer, the late Roger, never paid me because he died!). Already in Barcelona, shortly after starting my degree, I acquired what would be my first machine of high quality: a Eumig S 940 Multiprocessor, the jewel of the then most important company in Austria, EUMIG, the "Wizards of Vienna".
With the Eumig 940 I provided stereophonic sound for several home movies films and my first two "auteur" short films, shot in Barcelona: "UNIVERSITA...¿QUÉ?" and "VÍSPERA DE EXAMEN" (both on the channel Canal IB en Vimeo de IB Cinema). In fact, I bought the projector in Barcelona, at Arpí, on Las Ramblas. I decided on this model, despite the recommendation of Mr. Noia, who wanted me to go for a Sankyo 800 with f 1.0 optics (which, years later, I would get).
The University hired me to use my Eumig 940 to project "2001: A Space Odyssey" in colleges and various schools: there were more than a hundred screenings! With this job, combined with being head of activities at the Sant Jordi College, the projector, which I paid for in instalments, came to me free. The funniest thing of all is that I travelled to each school on a motorbike!!!, carrying the projector in its original box, on the tank of my Ducati Forza (I still use it today!), without a helmet!, which at that time was not mandatory.
More than 40 years later, the projector is still with me. A second 940 unit, acquired years later, with some improvements in the threading system and a bronze worm, I gave to Alex as gift. However, last year it began to develop intermittent sound problems.
After successfully completing his computer engineering course, Alex decided to get down to work with the 940 amplifier, with the help of my friend for more than 4 decades José Manuel. Well, friends, the sound problem was located and solved! For a handful of euros in components: the linear potentiometers, especially the main one, had worn tracks. According to Alex, the electronics are of the highest level, without cheap components, as occurs in the unjustly deified Elmo GS1200, with everything very accessible and understandable, unlike the Braun Visacustic. "You can tell from the details that the engineers had a lot of fun designing it. Inside, there's a real computer," Alex told me, adding, "And the amplifier is very good, too".
Although Eumig went bankrupt in 1981 and ceased operations soon after, the Viennese firm left a lasting legacy in the cinema field. Its products are still appreciated by collectors and enthusiasts of classic cinema technology. Some of its equipment is still in use today, proving the durability, good design and quality of its products. Long live Eumig!!!, forever in our memories.
- Eumig 940 free user manual: CLICK HERE
- Eumig 940 free service manual CLICK HERE
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