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THE DP70 WEB SITE
The web site is in three parts: a simple story about the the DP70 / Universal 70-35 Projector / Norelco AA11 machine and several lists of cinemas and serial numbers.
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ASISTANCE  NEEDED
Please send the following DP70 information to the editor:

* Serial number
* Present location (Cinema or private)
* City
* Country
* and a picture
SERIAL NUMBERS
0600-1499, 1500-1999, 2000-2729, Unidentified machines
COUNTRY
= new information/images

Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark , England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaya, Malta, Marocco, Northern Ireland, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Rumania, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa , Thailand, Tunis, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam.
PRIVATE MACHINES
Bob Leader, Washington, USA
RECENTLY ADDED NUMBERS AND MACHINES
803, 812, 834, 915, 917, 924, 925, 1567, 1356, 1568, 1654 , 1657 , 1658 , 1722, 1727, 1728, 1808, 1809, 1951, 2002, 2123, 2164, 2277, 2293, 2370, 2395 , 2414, 2438, 2516,

Base: Cat. 3070 59 102,
Description and features of the DP70

Norelco AAII Features

Philips Electro-Acoustics Division (ELA)

70mm film projection lenses for the DP70

Upgrades and modifications to the DP70

Articles and other DP70 documentation

DP70 Reference notes

All those who have helped finding the DP70 information
 
I think DP70s are a sight to behold in their own right and were the most visionary piece of engineering imaginable

Trevor Wilson, 10.04.2006
 
Construction of the Philips “All Purpose” projector DP70
The Cinema Department of the Philips works in Eindhoven (Netherlands) were asked to develop a special projector which had to be suitable for running 70mm films with magnetic sound tracks and which after replacement of some easily removable parts could be made suitable rapidly for the reproduction of 35mm films with optical sound track and of CinemaScope films with four magnetic sound tracks.
Jan Kotte and his Academy Award

 The Story of the DP70, the Todd-AO projector. The famous and time proven 70mm film projector developed by Philips in Holland more than 55 years ago. The DP70 was a remarkable 70mm projector. On Monday April 8, 1963 Fred J Pfeiff, technical manager of the motion picture equipment department of Norelco (North American Philips), received the 1962 Class 2 Oscar plaque for:

"The design and engineering of the Norelco Universal 70/35mm motion picture projector".
BROCHURES AND ADVERTS
Three DP70 Brochures
DP70, Universal 70/35mm Projector and Norelco AAII

Classic trade magazine DP70 adverts from Denmark, France, Germany, North America, Holland and many more
 
TESTIMONIALS
Very interesting website as I just have been looking it over. Bill Dubiel, USA


Hi, Enjoyed your wide-screen site very much. Charles Slater, Australia


Congratulations for all what you do in favour of DP70. I am a fan of these machines. Best Regards, Gerard Cortés, Spain.


Your web site? YEAHHH, STILL GREAT !!!! Best regards, Luc, France


Just a quick note to congratulate you on your excellent website in respect of the Philips DP70, projector a machine I worked with for a few years at the Queens Theatre in Newcastle On Tyne. U.K. Neil Thomson, Odeon Cinemas, Newcastle, England

More testimonials
 
ABOUT THE DP70 WEB SITE
This is a labour of love - and a fair amount of insanity. The history of one of the most remarkable film projectors; the DP70 Todd-AO projector.

In 1982, as a teenager, I started my film-life as a projectionist apprentice at the 3 Falke Bio, my favourite cinema which was "purpose built" for Todd-AO in 1958. My new interest became the history of the Philips DP70 projector. I was intrigued and wondered "Why did the DP70 receive an OSCAR and what was Todd-AO?".

My collection of DP70 information started to build and soon I discovered how much the DP70 was appreciated everywhere. I also discovered the wonderful story about Todd-AO and have spent a lot of effort and time to document the Todd-AO process and the DP70 projector.
 
I remember finding the original European sales brochure of the DP70 with a list on the back cover of all DP70 installations by August 1960. I started to collect DP70 serial numbers from Copenhagen, and soon expanded the search to Denmark and soon to Malmø in Sweden and in Hamburg in Germany.

Just how many machines were made? An intriguing question which I have tried to answer here.

I wrote letters to cinemas and soon answers arrived with serial numbers and pictures from fans all over the world. This was amazing! The list grew and I sent out regularly updated lists to all contributors in return for their help. Today, nearly 30 years later, the lists are too long to do that, and instead you can find the information online.

It would not have been possible to find all this data without continuing support from enthusiasts everywhere. To those individuals who have assisted me I am very grateful. My thanks to everyone and keep up the good work. We still have a long way to go ;-)

It is very difficult to record all DP70 cinemas and serial numbers. Projectors are moved and often re-installed in new places. Cinemas open, close and sometimes the machines are destroyed when cinemas are demolished. When available those details have been included on the cinema lists.

So far I have collected DP70s in:

44 countries, 541 Serial Numbers and 908 Theatres
 
Little did I know, so many years ago, what this interest and lifelong hobby, would bring me of wonderful visits to projection rooms, cinemas and unique historical places connected to the DP70 story. Imagine the thrill to receive a letter from The Todd-AO Corporation in Hollywood with serial numbers and images of their machines. What joy to find 24 machines in one single day in Paris' projection rooms - and by the end of the day be able to say "70mm" and "DP70" in French - fluently.

I have traced the story back into the home town of the chief engineer, met his son, shared memorabilia and information. I have seen the birthplace of the DP70 and photographed the Academy Award Jan Jacob Kotte won in 1963 for his achievement. I have seen American Optical in Southbridge in the United States, the birthplace of Todd-AO, and met with several key people from the early days of Todd-AO.