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Author Topic: More DCT Woes
Steve Carter
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015


 - posted August 08, 2015 02:17 PM      Profile for Steve Carter     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I was recording on the DCT, and I had to put the machine in reverse a few times to get to recording cue, now framer has gone out of line, frame line half way across the screen with pull down fully adjusted, any ideas?.If I now adjust up it goes too far...

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted August 08, 2015 04:47 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Once again Steve, it's a machine I've seen many times but not one I know much about as I've never owned one.

The good news however is that it is a very popular model and many on here have owned one of these, therefore hopefully it shouldn't be too long before someone on here gives you some ideas of what might be the problem.

I hope you soon rectify the issue Steve and also find out what caused the error right out of the blue.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Steve Carter
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015


 - posted August 09, 2015 12:48 AM      Profile for Steve Carter     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It looks like the nylon part on the claw that runs in the cam has worn down, what are the chances of obtaining one of these?, it's one thing after another and I'm getting very dispondent with the whole thing, get one issue sorted and another one appears...

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted August 09, 2015 04:59 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
It happens unfortunately Steve. It is the nature of the hobby and it's equipment some 30 - 40 years in.

I think with any machine now, you really have to push for people like Edwin who can produce many replica plastic wear parts, to release parts for any active machine users may have.

Then of course, you have to find someone who will do the work if you don't yourself feel comfortable in doing so.
Also these aging machines do need regular servicing.

These machines can, and do, give many good years of untroubled service life, however just like an aging car reaching it's 13th then 14th then 15th M.O.T. they then tend to need more and more work doing to them to keep them "road worthy".

There are two chains of thought from this point onwards it would seem,
1/ Stick with the existing machine you have, eventually all minor niggles will be ironed out if you stick with the repairs

2/Throw it away or keep it as a spares machine, its cheaper and easier just to find another working machine.

I think for scenario 2, it is very much a truth however one thing I have found is, it really isn't too often you find a real gem of a machine that comes up for sale that genuinely is "like new" and has no faults at all.
Even when you do find such a machine, faults usually appear very quickly because the machine has been left unused for so many years, just as a car would do the same.

For me personally, I tend to stick with the machines I have and just continually iron out the faults as they appear. Better the devil you know I find.

In this day and age, you really do need to have two examples of any favourite model just to keep one working at any one time i find.

I know of keen collectors that have up to five examples of the same model of their favourite projectors, just so they have at least one or two fully working models at any given time.

Last week I spent 49 Euros including P&P for a similar set of parts from Edwin that have just been brought to market.
I don't need any of these parts currently but I am certain one day, not too far in the distant future, I will do.
Then, at least I have the parts ready to fit straight away on my favourite home projector.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Steve Carter
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015


 - posted August 09, 2015 08:53 AM      Profile for Steve Carter     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
A big thank you to Bill Parsons, he found a used cam follower in his box of magic. Since I joined this forum I have found it to be full of the most helpful people, whom are passionet about the hobby and very helpful to others with problems in order they can carry on enjoying Film. Once again thank you Bill...

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James Wilson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 230
From: Norwich, UK
Registered: Jan 2015


 - posted August 09, 2015 10:05 AM      Profile for James Wilson   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi Steve,
That`s very unlucky, I think the DCT is the top of the line
with both optical & Magnetic sound. I have a DCM & i love it never had any problems at all, but I did know the seller and he said it was only used once in a while. Anyway you have a top Sankyo projector there although they were badged by (Bell &, Howell) in the 1980`s. Good Luck.

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James Wilson

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted August 09, 2015 10:50 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
No optical sound function on the B&H DCT I'm afraid James.

Bill comes to the rescue once again! Well done Bill and I hope you soon get the machine running reliably again Steve after your recent run of back fortune with it.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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


 - posted August 09, 2015 11:01 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The DCT does have twin-track facilities and a useful capacity for 800ft spools.

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Maurice

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted August 09, 2015 12:12 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Yes Maurice, a very nice machine, just no optical sound facility.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Simon McConway
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1085
From: Doncaster, UK
Registered: Jun 2004


 - posted August 09, 2015 04:28 PM      Profile for Simon McConway     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Look under the lamp...the white material protecting the sound head from the heat...is that asbestos?

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 09, 2015 04:35 PM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurice, the super8database says the spool capacity is 180m (600ft), not 240m (800ft). Is that a mistake ? I know there are some in that base.

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Dominique

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011


 - posted August 09, 2015 04:44 PM      Profile for Janice Glesser     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have a DCR Dominique and Maurice... it will only take up to 600ft reel.

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 09, 2015 04:52 PM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thank you, Janice. It looks like a good projector.

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Dominique

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Steve Carter
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015


 - posted August 09, 2015 05:11 PM      Profile for Steve Carter     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The DCT is 800ft...

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 09, 2015 05:24 PM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
So there is a little mistake about that in the super 8 data. It's a pitty it's not possible to send easily correction to this valuable site.

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Dominique

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Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009


 - posted August 09, 2015 06:17 PM      Profile for Bill Phelps     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Janice has a DCR and Steve has a DCT.

Bill [Smile]

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 09, 2015 06:35 PM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Yes, Steve and Maurice say the DCT has 800 ft (240m) spool capacity but the super 8 databases says the DCT has 180 m (600ft) capacity. So, there is a mistake in the database. This is normal regarding the number of cameras and projectors listed. It could be useful to provide the possibility to correct the datas.

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Dominique

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011


 - posted August 09, 2015 08:44 PM      Profile for Janice Glesser     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
On my DCR... I can fit a 800ft reel on the supply arm, but only a 600ft will fit on the takeup [Frown]

The photo of the DCT in the Super8mm Database shows it with a 800ft. reel.

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted August 09, 2015 11:23 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Yes,it's an unusual one is this. I don't have a DCT but from memory I am sure you can actually fit a 1200ft reel on the front arm but it's capacity is limited to 800ft as you can only fit a 800ft reel on the take up spindle.

Attempts have been made previously to fully convert these to a 1200ft machine by "butchering" sections of the rear lamp house cover away, in order to be able to fit a 1200ft spool on the rear spindle also.

There was one for sale like this only a few weeks back on e bay UK

[ August 10, 2015, 02:03 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 10, 2015 06:19 AM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I cannot zoom, Janice, so I just refered to the technical description. It happens on several projectors that the capacity of the feed arm is higher that the one of the take up arm. And often it is frustating to see that just one or two centimeters would have made the difference !

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Dominique

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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


 - posted August 10, 2015 10:18 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The Super 8 Data Base is usually correct, but there are often incorrect entries.

I have three Bell & Howell (Sankyo) models so can vouch for what I say.

DCR takes 600ft.
DCM takes 600ft.
DCT takes 800ft.

The first two use the 12volt 100watt lamp.
The latter uses the 15volt 150watt lamp.

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Maurice

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Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted August 10, 2015 02:49 PM      Profile for Mike Newell   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurice is right in his reply you can extend a DCM and DCR to 800ft capacity by two methods. One by obtaining an obsolete machine and removing front arm and replacing the back arm with front arm in a working machine. This will give you room to put 800 reel onto the back. You won't be able to close arm down so it would only suit where projector is sitting in semi permanent cinema setting. Method two depending on your DIY skills is to remove the plastic roller at the end before it goes to take up reel. It can be removed from projector via a screw at back. Use hack saw then solder any rough edges smooth. The film doesn't actually touch any edges so no scratching or damage will occur. The DCT is the equivalent of a Sankyo 800 with twin track facility'while the other two are the same as Sankyo 600s. I found the Bell & Howells to be real workhorses that are easy to clean and very good in causing no damage to prints. The Sankyo 800 would just have the edge on the DCT but both having hernia giving capacities!!!

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Steve Carter
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015


 - posted August 12, 2015 09:23 AM      Profile for Steve Carter     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Cam follower arrived today, many, thanks to Bill Parsons.
Bill warned me of the two bearings on the claw,and how they could fall out and be lost forever, so I thought with my bad tremors I'm not going to take any chances, so I fashioned a bowl like out of kitchen towel, and rested under the claw mount as I removed the three springs, I'm glad I did, one bearing fell straight into the bowl. Anyways, I fitted the cam follower, greased it and the cam, re-assembled and now it runs just like it was new, and the frame adjustment works just as it should. I might add the old follower was almost flat, so my constant reversing must have finished it off. Thanks Bill, you are a star...

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted August 12, 2015 09:32 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Indeed he is Steve and by the looks of things, so are you! Well done to you Steve!
I do love a happy ending with these things [Wink]

--------------------
"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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James Wilson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 230
From: Norwich, UK
Registered: Jan 2015


 - posted August 12, 2015 11:42 AM      Profile for James Wilson   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Great news Steve.

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James Wilson

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