8mm Forum: Big Reels Found

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Topic: Big Reels Found

Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1733
From: Brooksville, FL
Registered: Jun 2003

posted September 12, 2017 11:26 AM

When I was a young boy, I started collecting films on 8mm. At the time, I was about 7. Each Christmas my Dad and Mom got me the same toy I asked for, the Kenner Easy Show movie projector. Little did my parents know what they started. In fifty years, that toy projector has brought me to where I am today.

When I became a projectionist in cinema, I quickly began thinking, how could I make super 8 run the way 35mm does on the job. Trial and error. Many things were tried. And, there were many errors. But eventually, I developed a system that would pave the way to excellent presentation at home.

There’s a tremendous amount of stuff that I must leave out. After all, it’s been 34 years as a projectionist. From cue marks for changeover, to Dolby sound settings and configuration, I just can’t explain everything.

But here’s what I will tell you. If you like big reels, I have struck a goldmine. But it’s not exactly 100 percent. If you enjoy big reels, you will have to make some changes. And if you do, the money you can save will be pleasantly achieved.

I have found a global source for big reels. And they are under $10.00 each. I am testing them now and soon I will offer them to you once I know they will hold up to what we expect of them.

Getting back to cinema projectionist. The movie came in on light plastic or metal reels. We took each reel and checked in the show. Part of this was putting them off the shipping reels and on to the better heavy duty “house reels.” The house reels went on the upper and lower shafts of the projectors. The shipping reels now empty, stayed in the containers. On the last show, the shipping reels went on the bottom and the movie left the booth tails up. The next projectionist merely rewound on to his own house reels and the shows continued.

The new reels I have found will require you to use your own house reels method. At 13 inch diameter, the new reels will NOT fit on GS or ST 1200 arms. But wait. Keep reading. It’s easy to change and adapt.

Let’s say you have scattered about your collection, several Elmo aluminum 1200 foot reels currently storing some of your features. That’s actually a no brainer. Store your films on the new reels, and use the Elmo reels as house type.

Prior to screening, take the movie off the 13 inch reel and place on the Elmo. Run the movie. And rewind back to the 13 inch reel when done.

This new reel will appeal to those who also have a rewind bench with either cranks or cranks with a motor for rewinding. Because you’ll be doing lots of it and enjoying your work as a projectionist.

To store these new reels, they fit a little loose in a 1600 foot can. Or, even better, to save you money, they will fit in a 2.5 gallon Ziploc food storage bag. Two reels will fit nicely. And with a Rubbermaid 10 gallon storage container, all of your films will be in one nice sized box. You can drill vent holes through the container, and also leave the Ziploc open .25 of the way so the film and air can ventilate.

One Rubbermaid container can hold about 10 features in Ziploc bags. Base price for the container at Walmart: Under $5.00. And a box of 12 Ziploc bags around $3.50. Which means $8.50 cents to store 10 features in a clean environment not including the cost of the reels.

So the cost of the reels in that container would be approximately $160.00. That is assuming 10 features @ 2 reels per feature X $8.00 per reel (20 reels).

And here’s the best part: These reels are readily available, and if you would like to try or have more questions hit me up. I am pleased to tell you about this, and to answer any questions you might have. I will however, keep my provider source of these reels private. In time I will release the information, but just not right now.

You should think about jumping on this bandwagon.

You’ll be more of a projectionist at home. It’s not more work….it’s more FUN. Let me be clear on that.

The savings are astronomical. $8.00 for a 1200 foot reel. When was the last time you paid that for a new one?

And when was the last time you heard, “We have plenty in stock.”

Think about it.

Regards

Chip Gelmini