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Author Topic: ELMO ... why? why?
Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005


 - posted November 10, 2018 11:42 AM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I'm really starting to think that my investment in an ELMO GS1200 was a big mistake. Since I got it ...

The rewind doesn't even rewind.
The optical sound keeps on "shorting out". Now, it won't even play.

I'm wondering if it's just a matter of a complete overhaul, a complete oiling a dusting of all the levers and such. I really hope that is the answer, as i have NEVER had this much of an issue with any projector, (truth be told, I'd LOVE to find a EUMIG 938 stereo!) ...

I mean, I know that these are supposed to be the "cadillac?Mustang" ect of the super 8 projector world, but it's just getting to be a pain to me and a frustration ...

I don't just have the cash to mail this 80.00 dollars to ship one way projector (it's freakin heavy!) to somewhere else to have it all overhauled.

It just sits there, ticking me off when I glance at it.

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012


 - posted November 10, 2018 12:03 PM      Profile for Leon Norris   Email Leon Norris   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Now Calm Down, OSI you have to under stand that the machine is old! About 40 years old. Things will start to act up! But the two problems you have are to me no big one to fix! Optical sound and no rewind! Its time to check it out! Or sell it as is. It will SELL! Its your move! Leon Norris

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David Michael Leugers
Master Film Handler

Posts: 264
From: Fairfield, OH, USA
Registered: Feb 2004


 - posted November 10, 2018 12:50 PM      Profile for David Michael Leugers   Email David Michael Leugers   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Osi I can feel your pain. Shipping costs for projectors has gotten to be a big part of the equation. My advice is to save up for a good tune-up/overhaul. You may have to sell a few things to help pay for it (been there done that) but you will not be disappointed you did afterwards. The Elmo GS1200 is a very complicated projector compared to many others. That means it requires more care over the long run. But the results when it is running good is what makes it desirable to start with. I do not own one as I have no stereo sound films or optical sound films and they are very pricey. That said, I do not see them getting any cheaper as time goes on. Good luck, I know it can drive you crazy.

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Live Free or Die

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003


 - posted November 10, 2018 01:21 PM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've always thought, unless you can get spares easily and reasonable priced,(those motors from Elmo only use to cost around £60), or are an electronics engineer, the GS series is just too over engineered for the every day collector. It's a machine i always wanted one after my ST1200HD's, it was the natural upgrade for me until i really looked into them to see how everything works. Once i realised how many motors and switches they had within, that was it for me. I've always thought the HD1200 to be a perfect and well built workhorse, (along with a few other good machines).
I still like the look and performance of the GS, (who wouldn't), but they are simply too much maintenance for the average guy & mega bucks when they require fixing [Wink]

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Bruno Heughebaert
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 219
From: Belgium
Registered: Sep 2011


 - posted November 10, 2018 01:47 PM      Profile for Bruno Heughebaert   Email Bruno Heughebaert   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
You are totally right Tom.
I have one Gs that runs perfectly because it was completly rebuild by Ugo with new parts (some improved) but i had to pay the price for that.
The St is the best choice for the every day collector.

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted November 10, 2018 02:12 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Osi, if you read Consumer Reports the Cadillac has very poor reliability! [Big Grin] What you want is the reliability of a Honda, namely a good Eumig 800 series machine.
But there is no doubt that a fully functioning GS1200 is a beautiful thing to behold, putting out a very bright and steady picture and good quality sound. It is of course built like a tank, probably the most robust of any super 8 projector, with sound heads that seem to last forever.
I think the Eumig 938 has better sound and is gentler on film, but the 938 has some areas of flimsy plastic components which eventually fail, so its build quality could be better.
At the end of the day you will not find any projector without some issues. As Leon says, all these machines are now 40 years old. As a GS1200 owner I agree that they are complex and fussy machines, but IMO they are worth owning and worth the cost of maintaining, simply because they outperform most other projectors.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Alan Gouger
Master Film Handler

Posts: 451
From: Florida
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted November 10, 2018 02:13 PM      Profile for Alan Gouger     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Osi, tried to send you a PM but your mailbox is full.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007


 - posted November 11, 2018 05:08 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I remember some years ago a well known collector/dealer who had a GS-1200 xenon told me that he had bought it new as second-hand ones weren't worth buying as they were clapped out being used professionally in sex cinemas on an almost non-stop basis and then disposed of when faults developed after their constant use.
Perhaps such cinemas didn't always use xenons. [Big Grin]

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Maurice

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Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler

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


 - posted November 11, 2018 07:10 AM      Profile for Chip Gelmini     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I am hooked on the GS 1200 and will continue to use them and repair them as long as it is possible I will not use any other kind of projector for super eight sound

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Matthieu van der Sluis
Master Film Handler

Posts: 373
From: Barendrecht, The Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2017


 - posted November 11, 2018 07:26 AM      Profile for Matthieu van der Sluis   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Mine still works, but I know the day will come it won't.
I'm glad ' van Eck' is not too far from me.

I have also a ST1200D, but the take up reel cannot handle 1200", so it stops halfway, dropping the rest of the film on the floor. This one still has the round belts I once ordered at 'van Eck'. I recently ordered the origenal square belts at the Real Image store. I still need to replace them, and than it will be amuch better.

I'm looking for a ST1200HD as well,because I think it will be better, because it's the final engineered version of this ST1200 projectorline.
I really like this projector in case design. I even ordered a Beauercase for my Beauer T610 because of theat, but it makes the whole Beauerset very large.

Wish they made an Elmo case for the GS1200 as well like they did for the ST1200, but they did not.

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Kev Morrison
Film Handler

Posts: 76
From: Land of the Mouse, USA
Registered: Feb 2018


 - posted November 11, 2018 08:31 AM      Profile for Kev Morrison   Email Kev Morrison   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Osi,

As Alan has pointed out - your mailbox is full.

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Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler

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


 - posted November 11, 2018 08:55 AM      Profile for Chip Gelmini     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Osi

Get your machine serviced and it will be much better. Just get it done.

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David Baker
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 233
From: Hamilton , Ohio
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted November 11, 2018 12:08 PM      Profile for David Baker   Email David Baker   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Yes !!

One of the JOYS of this Hobby - LEARN TO TOTALLY REPAIR YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT !!

--------------------
Dave

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012


 - posted November 11, 2018 12:41 PM      Profile for Leon Norris   Email Leon Norris   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I Totally agree with you David! But there is a lot of collectors who won't touch it! They rather have someone fix it! I won't be Repairing for ever! The GS1200 is no toy! It can be a Headache on some repairs!Once you think you seen it all something new pops up! But I love it !

Leon Norris

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Stuart Finkelstein
Film Handler

Posts: 62
From: Boston, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2010


 - posted November 12, 2018 02:15 AM      Profile for Stuart Finkelstein     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Optical sound adjustment is a tricky task for the GS, but motors and many other parts can be replaced with a mere screwdriver. I work on my own GS projectors, and they run like a top! Of course, I have help from an unnamed forum member, but if you use these pages for tech support when needed, you will find out what you need to know.

You can even download a GS-1200 service manual:

http://www.film-tech.com/warehouse/manuals/GS1200SERVICE.pdf

[ November 12, 2018, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Finkelstein ]

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted November 12, 2018 10:53 AM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The modular design of the GS1200 is definitely a virtue. There are many separate mechanical and electronic assemblies which can be fairly easily removed, and repaired or replaced.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

 |  IP: Logged

Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005


 - posted November 13, 2018 11:38 AM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Actually, Paul, I am certainly looking to find a very good condition (or better yet, brand new in box) Eumig S938!!!

I've always wanted one of them.

By the way, i just fixed a prolem on my Eumig 926 stereo!

The little metal "peg" (That's what I'll call it), that is on the actual "lense assembly" broke off, (for others that donot know, it's the lil thing that allows you to turn backwards or forwards the whole lense), an I super glued it on once, but it fell off rather easily in short duration ...

The fix?

I found that with just a very little masking tape, wrapped around once or twice the inner portion of the lense, that i could firmly put it back in there, however, i do have to move it "manually' back and forth, but it's better than no lense assembly at all and there is no "cosmetic" loss to the projectors beauty! [Smile]

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted November 13, 2018 03:10 PM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
There is a collector on FB with an optical print of 'Adams' - Thought of you - Not sure he
s selling, but the pictures are nice to see - Shorty

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005


 - posted November 14, 2018 12:10 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Could you put up a link to that? I'd have no idea as to where to look Shorty!

--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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