Original Owner's Manual!

Back in September, when I picked-up the Mini-Crab Dolly from NYU, my friend Zul also gave me a container of miscellaneous items belonging to the dolly. Lo and behold, inside the container I found the ORIGINAL owners manual!

Since the time we started blogging about this compact and nearly portable dolly back in 2010, I only had a 'copy of a copy' of the manual that I posted on this blog. 

I remember asking both William Sargent (inventor) and the late Joseph Tawil (former president of Colortran) if they had a copy of the manual. Neither of them had one. 

Here are a few pics of the original manual! 

I plan to scan and post the original owners manual replacing the copy I posted many years ago. Soon, you will be able to access a better version to have and print.  

The NYU Mini-Crab Dolly is Finally Home!

Hello Friends!

About a month ago, I took the beautiful drive from Cleveland OH, to New York City. This was to pick up the Mini-Crab Dolly that Zul Atmosudirdjo, Teaching Soundstage Manager at New York University, so graciously set aside for us.

                 My good friend, Zul, and I just after loading the Mini-Crab into the car. 

                It was an honor to be standing inside NYU's Tisch School of the Arts!

The benefactor display and the Dean's Council Members. You will certainly recognize many names on this display. (Click on image to enlarge).

Not only did I pick up the dolly, but Zul gave me the most awesome tour of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. As I walked through one of the best film schools in the world, I couldn't help but to wonder of all the great filmmakers, past and present, that honed their craft at NYU. Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, and M. Night Shyamalan, are just some of the greats that came out of NYU. Not to mention the probability that many of them actually used this very same dolly to create their reels. This was during the 40 year period this dolly was used during instruction at NYU.

During my fabulous tour, I observed a classroom in session, a fully functioning sound stage and other special behind-the-scene-areas. Zul even showed me another iconic dolly....the Fearless Panoram. I've heard about these 900+ pound classics but never seen one up close. They are massive and were certainly manufactured way before William Sargent's ingenious design of the portable Mini-Crab Dolly.

After my 8-hour trek back home, the former NYU Mini-Crab Dolly is now tucked away in our garage. Next year, Adam, and I will begin the process of refurbishing it.

                                             The NYU Dolly is finally home!

                            The dolly (in full-crab mode) is parked in our garage. 

William Sargent (designer/inventor of this dolly) was informed about this special acquisition. Needless to say, he was very happy to hear about one of his babies! 

Lastly, I wish to sincerely thank my good friend, Zul, for not only finding our website, but also reaching out to me and holding this very special gift for us. Thank you Zul! You ARE the BEST!

Exciting News!

Dear Sarkell Society Members! We have some great news to share!

 

Late last year, we received an email from Zul Atmosudirdjo, Teaching Soundtage Manager, Department of Film and Television, Maurice Kanbar Institute, Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

 

Zul was given the task of finding a new home for the Colortran Mini Crab Dolly #120 that has called NYU Tisch's School of the Arts home for the past 40 years!

                                      Colortran Mini-Crab Dolly #120

During it's time at NYU, this dolly was used to teach a multitude of future filmmakers the techniques of incorporating the 'dolly-shot' in film production. 

Interestingly enough, #120 has a rich history of being used by many famous NYU film school professors. Many of whom possess successful major motion picture and broadcast television credits. Not to mention, all of the notable alumni that attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts during this dolly's 40-year run is truly amazing. More on that in a future post!

Thankfully, Zul came across our Colortran Mini Crab Dolly Blog and asked if we would be willing to adopt #120. Without hesitation, we gladly accepted this very special gift.

 

Fast forward many months, we are now arranging the pick up of #120 and making the trek to New York City to retrieve this little gem.  

Adam and I are planning to make a father-and-son project of refurbishing #120 during the upcoming winter. We'll update it's original CO2 operation and give it a fresh coat of 'Colortran Blue' paint. Our goal is to make #120 available at no-cost to local media production groups here in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Specifically, the ones assisting non-profits highlighting people with disabilities. 

 

Here's some photos of our new friend, Zul (top photo) and a couple of his colleagues, Student TA David Melean and Stage Technician Julian Aguero of NYU having fun with #120. Click on any image to enlarge.

                         Zul Atmosudirdjo, shown above on #120.

 Student TA David Melean (left) pushing Stage Technician Julian Aguero (right).

David and Julian demonstrating the Mini-Crab Dolly!

We'll be sure to document the pick up of #120 and eventually detail the refurbishing of William Sargent's perfectly designed Mini-Crab Dolly. 

 

Lastly, we would like to sincerely thank our new friend Zul for not only reaching out to us but having the patience during the many months of correspondence for this special acquisition. THANK YOU ZUL!