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Author
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Topic: Eiki or Bell and Howell?
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Chris Bird
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 218
From: Kingston upon Thames, UK
Registered: Jul 2013
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posted July 24, 2013 01:54 AM
Hi all, I'm a regular lurker, but this is my first actual post here, so go gentle!
I mainly collect the earlier period of cinema, 9.5 silent, 28mm, and recently got into 35mm with four pre-First World War projectors!
For 16mm I use an Elmo F16, an absolutely gorgeous machine, but am starting to research getting an additional, more modern machine as well. In the UK, Elf (Eiki) and Bell and Howell are the obvious choices. I see Phil Sheard has an Eiki SSL-1 for sale and also a late B+H TQ3, dark grey model. It's years since I had an Elf or used B+Hs (two film societies I ran as a student used B+H TQ1s and TQ3s). My impression was that B+Hs were much kinder to film, particularly old or damaged film. (I know about the worm issues.) On the other hand, it would be nice to own that sleek modern SSL-1! What do you guys think?
In an ideal universe it would also play 18fps and have a three-bladed shutter, but I don't think any modern 16mm projectors do that, do they? Apart from the Bauers, which are quite scarce.
Any advice welcome! And of course, if any of you live near and have such a machine you'd consider selling (must be in really nice condition though ![[Smile]](smile.gif) ) or part exchange for a Eumig 824 dual gauge projector, then PM me.
Thanks so much in advance!
Chris
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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God
Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted July 25, 2013 04:33 PM
I have both makes, but do prefer B & H, I think they are kind to film, personally I am not a fan of the "loop restorers" on projectors.
The simple answer is if you have a bad splice, then it will strain a spocket hole, then two ,then three etc, if there's a fault on your film, best attend to it, or it will get worse. The Elf's are a good projector, but I reckon I might be biased, as I lost trust in Japanese
projectors many years ago, ( Elmo), but having said that, the Elf's
have never scratched any of my prints.So I think both machines do their jobs.
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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God
Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted July 26, 2013 07:22 PM
That's right Maurice, basically the same as the Elf, I have heard
of collectors disabling it, although I DON'T have the courage to do this.I DO think I prefer a manual approach, as Adrian mentioned,
it has been used many years on other projectors. That aside, both
makes of machine do the job, although the Elf projector is the
easiest to keep in repair I must say, all you need is a Phillips screwdriver.
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Chris Bird
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 218
From: Kingston upon Thames, UK
Registered: Jul 2013
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posted July 30, 2013 10:38 AM
Hi folks, I've now bought Phil Sheard's B+H TQ3 and will keep you posted how I get on with it. But this morning I popped into a nearby antiques fair and came across this, the filthiest machine I've ever seen. Underneath the dirt, it's an Elf NT1. Since it was only a tenner, I got it, cleaned the worst of the dirt off, and it powers up and runs fine! Needs some new belts, which is fair enough. Rough round the edges, but once I've finished cleaning and fettling I may have a nice extra machine here!
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