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Topic: Eiki/Elf lists?
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Adrian Winchester
Film God
Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted March 05, 2016 10:46 PM
I've been mostly using Eikis in the UK for decades but I haven't personally come across an Elf that wasn't basically an Eiki, so that would surprise me if it were true. However, there are certain minor differences between some models sold in different countries - e.g. I have a SSL-2 that I obtained from Germany and this has an on/off switch and the inferior 2 pin din connection in relation to the speaker output on the projector and the speaker input on the speaker, which presumably was the norm in Germany.
I've never really understood why the name Eiki was considered a problem in the UK, considering it wasn't in the USA. In fact the Eiki decals on later models were smart metal ones, and any Elf sticker could simply be peeled off to reveal it!
Eiki had more than "a hand" in making certain later B&H projectors from about the mid-1980s, as they were entirely made by Eiki. The only difference with the Eiki equivalents is what they are called and the colour, which in most (but not all cases) is different. Instead of the gold/brownish colours of later Eikis, the B&H badged equivalents are black/grey. My favourite projector is the B&H version of the Eiki ENT, which is a cool-looking projector in Eiki colours, but in my opinion even smarter in black/grey. I've occasionally had an audience member at a public show seeing the decal saying "Bell+Howell Filmosound" and saying something like "I used to have one of those", so I explain that it isn't actually the projector that they think it is! If you look at the 'small print' on the back plate or on the instruction manual, it's made perfectly clear that the projector was manufactured by Eiki Industrial.
I believe the explanation is that B&H had exclusive rights to distribute projectors to certain markets in the USA (not sure about elsewhere) but could not for some reason manufacture the projectors, so they came to an arrangement with Eiki and took a cut of the profits. I expect buyers had to go to Eiki for any servicing or spares but I can't be certain of that. I'd be interested to know if B&H were still selling any of their own projectors in this period. I wonder when they sold the last 'true' B&H projectors?
[ March 06, 2016, 05:34 PM: Message edited by: Adrian Winchester ]
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Adrian Winchester
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Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler
Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted March 07, 2016 04:40 AM
Yes, my TQ111 1695 is badged as made in Japan, but no mention of Eiki.
I looked through the instruction book and could only find American references, then realised it was for models 2585, 2590 and 2592, all US models apparently.
Refering to your last paragraph, about recieving a new BH, what a nice thought! I've only ever bought second (or third) hand, even back in the day!
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