"How many DP70 were made by Philips in Eindhoven, Holland?"
DP70 Serial Numbers: 0600 - 2532

The serial number is the small metal plate on the back of the mechanism between the two oil taps, or on earlier models, just above the shutter.

"How many DP70 machines did Philips Cinema produce in Eindhoven, Holland?"

That is a question which I have been trying to find the answer to for many years. The short answer is 1577 machines. This is a qualified guess, based on all the numbers in this list. "Huh! How is that?" Well, since the early 1980s I have been collecting DP70 serial numbers as a hobby. Whenever I visited a cinema with one or more DP70s I wrote the number down, and recorded the theatre name. Over time, many friends and projectionists have sent me similar information, and to date, this list now includes nearly 700 machines. The list of serial DP70 numbers has been assembled over nearly 40 years and serves no other purpose than being a very needy interest, but also a work of love.
 

The serial number is read on the small metal plate on the back of the mechanism between the two oil taps, or on earlier models, just above the shutter. The number plate changes location between machines: #1459 and #1473 (Original install: Palladium, Copenhagen, Denmark). The list of numbers starts off at #601 and ends with #2532 and then jumps to a final stop at #2729. There are no numbers between 999 and 1300 (with a few exceptions, which I think are mistakes). On many machines found in the US, additional United Artists number plates have been added to the machines. Those, I assume, are Todd-AO Corporation numbers.

I have been unable to find precise information as to the exact number of machines manufactured. It will remain a total mystery how many DP70 projectors Philips Cinema manufactured from 1955 until the end, around 1966. The Philips company has been very helpful, but alas, have been unable to find any records. Kinoton was kind to reply in 2001, and they estimated around 1500 machines had been built. Kinoton was located in Munich, Germany, and was the distributor of spare parts for the DP70.

28. August 2001

Dear Mr. Hauerslev

Unfortunately I cannot give you any information about the production figures of the DP70. You would have to turn to Philips Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The only thing I can tell you is a number of 1500 DP70 projectors which we sold in the period from 1955 until 1968. I hope this will help you a little bit.

Regarding spare parts for the DP70, most of them are still produced and supplied.

Best regards
Renate Zoller
Kinoton, Germany

If I assume that all numbers collected so far gives a random image of all the machines ever made, then my guess is that Philips Cinema made 1577 DP70 Todd-AO projectors. In the table below, you can see a breakdown of each series with my notes. The list is not complete, not will it ever be, but it does give a very good impression of how popular the Todd-AO Projector was. Especially since everything Todd-AO is now long gone in Hollywood, and digital cinema has taken over mainstream cinema, we still have the original 70mm projector left in many cinemas. Perhaps the most successful element of the entire Todd-AO Process?  

Although much effort has been made to keep the list up-to-date, you must be prepared to find that some machines have been removed. The machines have been located at one point since 1982 and may not be installed any longer. The list does not reflect where the machines are today. Some projectors have been moved or scrapped since the date of recording between 1982 and today.  Also, please take a look at this list on this page called "Missing DP70 numbers", which are theatres with DP70s where the mechanism serial number haven't been recorded yet, or where plate is removed etc. As soon as the mechanism numbers are added, the machines are moved to the regular lists.

Feel free to send your information to me: Thomas Hauerslev
 

DP70 Series

 

Series	Machines found	Built in series of 100	% found	Notes
0600	35	100	2,2%
0700	31	100	2,0%
0800	48	100	3,0%
0900	26	100	1,6%
1000-1100	3	-	-	It seems odd to have only three mechanism with 1000/1100 numbers, since no other machines in both ranges have been found in 40 years. It is probably Todd-AO numbers, and not Philips mechanism numbers.
1300	44	100	3,0%	Including three from 1000-1100 range
1400	40	100	2,5%
1500	11	55	0,7%	45 machines missing. A gap between 1515 - 1559.
1600	46	100	2,9%
1700	46	100	2,9%
1800	41	100	2,6%
1900	39	100	2,5%
2000	38	100	2,4%
2100	29	100	1,8%
2200	37	100	2,3%
2300	55	100	3,5%
2400	36	100	2,3%
2500	12	32	0,8%	Including #2729. It seems odd to have one mechanism with a 2700 number, since there no machines above 2532. Digit two "7" could have been misread.
	50	-	3,2%	Theatres with DP70s where the mechanism serial number haven't been recorded yet, or where plate is removed. As soon as the mechanism numbers are added, the machines are moved to the regular lists.
Total	667 machines found so far	1577 machines built (approximately)	42,3% of all machines found	DP70s = (15 x 100) + 55 + 32 = 1487

DP70 numbers
This list has been made during 40s and counting. Each machine has been "spotted" at some point, and may be long gone today. The list represents all 667+ machines where they were at the time of recording. The list is updated every now and then, if new information comes in.