8mm Forum: Threading a projector

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Posted by Donna Campbell (Member # 3966) on October 06, 2013, 09:02 PM:

How do I thread a Bell & Howell Lumina MX33? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 06, 2013, 10:03 PM:

Welcome Donna,

The MX33 is self threading. If your projector is working properly here's what to do...

Set the film type to either R8 (Regular 8mm) or S8 (Super 8mm).

Set the gear-like lever to FWD (Forward).

Set the main switch to FAN to start the motor and the auto threader.

Guide the film into hole at the top called Film Load until the auto load takes over.

Once the film catches into the take-up reel...set the main switch to LMP to turn on the lamp.

Hope this helps.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on October 07, 2013, 02:26 AM:

Rather a strange looking projector, presumably one of the early Super 8 machines which were introduced in the sixties and seventies which went completely away from the standard design of a projector.

It's light years away from my Bell & Howell 606H!

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 07, 2013, 09:25 AM:

Did'nt Bell & Howell make some cartridge loading S8 projectors?

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on October 07, 2013, 09:37 AM:

yes Paul they did.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on October 07, 2013, 10:01 AM:

Technicolor also had cartridge projectors in standard 8 and super 8, some with sound. Technicolor must have thought a lot of their babies as over two dozen different models were produced.

I see that eBay regularly offer cartridges for sale which is quite odd as the projectors were only manufactured up to 1974.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on October 07, 2013, 10:27 AM:

Currently looking at my old Movie Maker & Film Making mags I recall seeing article on them, I think there were 5 or 6 different systems.

Scanning them to add to the website too.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 07, 2013, 12:42 PM:

I have bought 3 of these types B&H projectors.... and all have had belt problems. They were also sold under the Sears and Wards brand. I have yet figured out how to replace any of the belts. I actually took one completely apart and never came up with a solution [Frown]

I still have a couple MX33's in my closet that are in great cosmetic condition...but need new belts. Maybe one of these days someone will publish a "how-to" solution so I can get these projectors working again.

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on October 07, 2013, 01:28 PM:

Janice, did you get the projectors back together again. Many years ago I bought a book on watch repairing, and took a cheap pocket watch apart, when I had finished I had one or two pieces left over. [Big Grin]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 07, 2013, 01:58 PM:

The one projector I took apart was a sacrificial lamb... I didn't try and put it back together. The other two I have are all together...just need new belts. I thought about buying one of those belt kits where you can make your own belts. That might be my only alternative at this point.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on October 08, 2013, 07:55 AM:

Janice
Why not make up a spring belt? Measure to length, make hook on one end and an eye on the other end. The belt can then be slipped over the pulleys, stretched and then connected.

On a sound projector this might not work if the belt is thinner/thicker than the original as it might affect the fixed speed for sound projection. However, on a silent projector this would not be a problem as I assume the projector has a speed control which can give the required speed.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 08, 2013, 12:36 PM:

I hadn't thought of that Maurice. I'll see if that's a possibility.

[ October 08, 2013, 09:16 PM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

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