8mm Forum: GS-1200 repair in USA?

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Posted by Stephen Kent Jusick (Member # 153) on September 20, 2009, 10:42 AM:

Hi All--

Thanks for your answers about GS-1200 Xenon voltage. I'm still working out that problem, and it may take longer than I had hoped, given how real life intervenes.

But I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for reapair and service for a non-Xenon GS-1200 machine, as well as ST-1200s? I know about Leon Norris, and he COULD do the GS, but sometimes he's overloaded. So I'm looking for good, reliable alternatives. Also, Leon has told me he won't work on ST-1200s. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Stephen Kent Jusick

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on September 20, 2009, 07:08 PM:

Hi Stephen. I can't be of specific help, but this is what I did....

I remembered who the Elmo distributors were in Australia, they had their logo at the bottom of all the Elmo ads in magazines. I contacted them as they distributed other photographic products too and were still in business. They were actually only 4 blocks from my office. I bought a new belt from them for my ST 1200 and I asked the guy at counter did they still do repairs.

He said they did not have a really good Elmo person there any more as he'd retired. I got his number and found out that not only would he do repairs for me on my Elmos, but that he also bought lots of Elmo parts when he left! (no, he is not keen to sell them, then he can't do repairs).

I am sure Elmo USA would have had top techs in their various offices or those of major distributors, it would be worth a shot.

Good luck.

Posted by Robert Babun (Member # 1873) on October 02, 2010, 11:15 PM:

Hi David

I have sent you a pm.

Regards
Rob

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 03, 2010, 10:20 AM:

I believe that Leon was in fact one of Elmo's top techicians in the USA and he bought a lot of their spare parts when they folded.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on October 03, 2010, 01:47 PM:

I don't think that Leon every worked for Elmo. He did buy all of the remaining parts off of Elmo's projector line he told me once.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 04, 2010, 02:52 AM:

Hi Robert; got your email, I'll send the details in a day or two.

David

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on October 04, 2010, 07:45 AM:

Leon told me last month that he now works on ALL elmos...since he was laid off from his job last year, he's been doing repairs full time...so turnaround should not be an issue. Unless something's changed in the last month, Leon is able to do all Elmos now. He bought a lot of parts.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on October 05, 2010, 05:20 PM:

I wonder why he doesn't work on the ST1200's? They seem alot more basic than the GS's.

James.

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on October 05, 2010, 05:52 PM:

He told me he DOES work on ST-1200s. I am sending mine up shortly.

Claus.

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on October 05, 2010, 06:24 PM:

The ST1200s shutters are driven by a rubber wheel. This is different from other Elmo models -- where a belt drives the shutter. My guess is that he probably has less flexibility to mix and match parts. I have personally found this mechanism nearly impossible to get right after a dis-assembly. I tried once and I ham-fisted myself into bending the shutter accidentally. Also, I believe converting to a 2-bladed shutter is not possible for similar reasons -- I doubt 2 bladed shutters were made for this model.
Looks like he repairs them now but those are best guesses on why in the past he didn't work on them.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on October 05, 2010, 07:49 PM:

Thanks guys.

Tony, that makes sense. I had an ST1200 that I bought used in the 90's. I could never get the speed right on it and eventually sold it "as is". Those rubber wheels are hard to deal with.

James.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 06, 2010, 02:09 AM:

The key to the ST1200 staying reliable is constant use. If one has been sitting for a few years; look out!

The rubber needs to stay supple.

Posted by Josef Grassmann (Member # 378) on October 06, 2010, 07:10 AM:

Elmo ST1200 is a very relaiable projector.
If every thing is oiled and greased, adjusted and new belts mounted than 90% of them will work for years, again.
If surface of rubber coated wheels show hard or cracked surface it is recommended to grind them on a round-grinding-maschine. Diameter is reduced by 0.4mm which can´t be dedected by watching film strips.
In some cases cracks in rubber go down to steel core of wheels.
Here we have to replace rubber and grind it to original diameter.

Regards
Josef

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 06, 2010, 06:56 PM:

Josef, I understand grinding all the rubber down speeds the projector up to just over 25 fps.

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on October 06, 2010, 07:09 PM:

Yes, that appears to be about right. My films are a bit fast at both speeds after I had the remains of the rubber ground off.

Claus.

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on October 07, 2010, 05:59 PM:

I assume you are talking about the rubber around the shutter and not the rubber wheel itself. All models did not have the rubber around the shutter.

I agree -- they are very reliable machines.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 07, 2010, 08:47 PM:

You guys have inspired me: my ST-1200's been idle a couple of months and I just got it out.

The wild thing about mine is the rubber has been removed from the shutter wheel and it runs a little slow. (a little under 23 FPS)

If I could find one of the ones that has sped up to a little over 25, they'd average out perfectly!

Based on the relative sizes of the shutter wheel and the roller being kind of a "gear ratio", it makes more sense if removing the thickness of the rubber makes the machine speed up little.

-As nearly as I can figure it the loss of the rubber is allowing a little bit of slippage. The reason it makes sense for it to have been there in the first place is "traction".

PS: I looked at my rollers: they look fine.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 08, 2010, 05:01 AM:

Mine is an ST 1200 M & O, an early model without the rubber around the shutter. It has been very reliable for over 30 years, but is in at the moment for a "tune-up".

I have owned other Elmo st 1200's over the years along with other Elmos and found the brand to be very reliable too. I have not owned a GS 1200........one day.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 08, 2010, 09:08 PM:

I just ran my Blackhawk "The Music Box" (500+ Ft. on a single reel) on my ST-1200HD

It seems to me the voices were unusually deep at the beginning of the reel, but towards the end things sounded more and more like I expect them. (I usually show films like this on my ST-800, which is dead-nuts 24 FPS. I know what they should sound like)

Maybe if I use the machine more regularly it will loosen up and actually run a full 24 FPS all the time.

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on October 09, 2010, 05:11 PM:

Not too unusual for an Elmo ST1200HD -- I sometimes run the projector in forward motion with the lamp off for about 5 minutes on my Elmo before showing a print. Then the speed is correct from the beginning. This is usually only necessary when it hasn't been run in a few weeks, and the weather is on the cold side.

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on October 09, 2010, 05:58 PM:

Tony,

Yep, since the ST relies on the flywheel to get to corret speed, I have always run mine for a few minutes when starting, prior to putting films on.
It brings it up to speed and (equally importantly) eliminates the wow/flutter of the sound from a "cold start."

Claus.

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