Bell & Howell 3870 Overhead Projector 120V 400W Dual Lamp Still Picture

Bell & Howell 3870 Overhead Projector 120V 400W Dual Lamp Still Picture

The Bell & Howell 3870 is a tabletop still picture overhead projector designed to project transparencies onto a wall or screen. It runs on 120V 60Hz power at 400W and accepts a lamp up to 360W max. A built-in dual-lamp toggle switch lets you switch between a main lamp and a spare lamp without interrupting a presentation — a practical feature common on classroom and training-room projectors of this era. The unit is complete and structurally intact; it needs a replacement bulb to operate.

Specifications & What's Included

• Brand: Bell & Howell
• Model: 3870
• Type: Still Picture Overhead (Transparency) Projector
• Input Power: 120V 60Hz, 400W
• Lamp: 360W Max (bulb not included — needs replacement)
• Lamp Configuration: Dual lamp (Main and Spare) with front-panel toggle switch
• Stage: Fresnel lens projection stage for standard overhead transparencies
• Controls: Off/On toggle switch; Main/Spare lamp selector
• Certification: UL Listed (UL 672H)
• Power cord included
• Bulb/lamp NOT included

Applications

Overhead projectors like the Bell & Howell 3870 were standard equipment in classrooms, training rooms, conference rooms, and lecture halls from the 1970s through the 1990s, before digital projectors became widespread. They project transparency film — hand-drawn or printed acetate sheets — onto a wall or projection screen, making them useful for presentations, teaching, and group instruction. The dual-lamp design of the 3870 was especially valued in professional settings where a burned-out bulb mid-presentation could be immediately bypassed by flipping to the spare. These projectors are still sought after for retro/vintage classroom setups, theatrical and artistic uses, and any setting where analog transparency projection is needed. Replacement 360W overhead projector lamps are widely available from lighting suppliers.