Hatke Reel End Alarm

When I first looked at this in the plastic bag I thought it might be a bell hop bell of some sort.
Opening the package and reading the label, given this is a fishing area, I thought it might be a bell that rang when you got a bite. Nope, that's not what it is.
It's actually used in the film theatre industry. I'm going to quote others here starting with Gordon R. Bachlund from Screening Room Services:

"The motion picture industry began with a storefront “theatre” around 1895 in New York City. This small beginning quickly spawned a host of others, and the era of the nickelodeon was born, but their product was limited to short films, generally only 10 minutes in length, the limit of a 1,000-foot reel of 35mm film at “silent speed.”

Before long, “photoplays” of several reels’ length were common, and the early storefront nickelodeons gradually gave way to sumptuous moving picture theatres that utilized two or more projectors to provide a continuous presentation.

Implicit in multiple projector operation was a means to synchronize each successive reel and to effect a seamless changeover between reels. The development of a device (actually a family of devices) that called the projectionist’s attention to the impending end of the film’s supply reel as it emptied through the projector onto the take-up reel. These mechanical marvels were referred to as “reel alarms” or “end-of reel alarms.”
End quote"

And that's what this device is made by Hatke of Denver, Colorado.

According to Scott Norwood on the Film Tech Forum, who provided the ad and I quote:

"The "three ding" model would be the "Hatke Reel Alarm"; this is the sales brochure for it circa 1970. The crossed-out price is $25 per pair."
End quote.

That's all the info I have on this item.
I gave it a quick polish. Though I don't quite know exactly how it works yet, the build is interesting. Inside the main housing it's lined with green felt. I take it to silence the ball bearing which you can see in the corner pic. There's a couple of holes in the main housing under the bell, the main housing, which the ball bearing resides at the start of the process. Once turned, at a certain angle the ball bearing rolls up (or down) the ramp out of the main housing falling and ringing the bell. After a full turn, the ball falls into the second hole back into the main housing again. And the cycle starts over I take it.

From what I understand they can be set to ring at a given time prior to the end of the reel. I presume that's the reason for the area marked in paint on this reel.. a starting or setting point possibly.

And so ends today's lesson. Lol.

I personally have absolutely no use for such a device. Dang sure not rich enough to own a home theater or a retro theater house.

If it's peaks your interest, something you collect and you want it, you're more than welcome to it. I have enough stuff gather dust.

You can contact me through my blog
http://ccanade.blogspot.com
or through here if they have a way via PM.

I hope it's okay to give stuff away here? If not, let me know Admin and I'll edit that part out of this post.

Cheers...