8mm Forum: why Do My SILENTS Have Shivers

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Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on June 28, 2004, 10:59 PM:

While running a few Super-8 SILENTs through my Sound units. They all seem to have the Shivers - very unstable projection regardless of the speed. Any ideas as to why? Could it be the lack of stripes on either side of the film?

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on June 30, 2004, 07:03 AM:

Maybe. What projector are you experiencing this problem with?

Posted by John Whittle (Member # 22) on June 30, 2004, 12:26 PM:

Brad

Move the frame line into the picture and see if it's steady. If it is, then the problem may be in the original materials have shrunk (silent pictures are rather old and were shot on nitrate film which had a high shrinkage rate).

If the frame line bounces the problem might be with the projector or dry film.

John

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on July 01, 2004, 12:09 AM:

It's still a littl jittery. The films I'm projecting are Castle shorts, Ken shorts and assorted Blackhawk 2-reelers (all from the 70's). Yet, it doesn't seem to be doing it with my SOUND titles from the same manufacturers. Which is why I was wondering if it's common with most SOUND projectors when they run silent editions. Could it be the film is lighter (due to the absence of mag stripes) and therefore more prone to be a bit jumpy? I don't lose the loop at all or get chattering - just a picture that's a bit unstable. It happens at both 24fps and 18 fps.

Posted by John Whittle (Member # 22) on July 01, 2004, 12:42 PM:

Brad,

I think your silent films just need to be cleaned and lubed. The magstriped prints are making it thru the projector better since the film is held off the metal by the mag stripes.

A good film cleaner (such as Kodak color movie film cleaner or equal) would do the job.

Noise in the gate is usually a sign of a dry print (it can be other things, but by far it's a dry print especially if other prints are running ok.)

John

Posted by Henry Perangelo (Member # 40) on July 01, 2004, 01:57 PM:

Brad,

Does your film have a slight curl? I have seen this with 8mm films more often than Super-8mm. You can check out the film in question by putting the film on rewinds. When you are 1/2-way through the film, relax the rewinds & see if the film has a slight curl or bend. If it does you can try a tight, reverse rewind & a soak in film renew for a few weeks. I have had some luck with this method. It all depends on how bad the curl is.

-Henry-

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on July 01, 2004, 02:48 PM:

What Projector are you putting the films through? On some machines such as the ST1200 & GS1200 it's recommended to use the Optical position so that the Head pressure plate doesent push down on the film. I'm more inclinded to agree with earlier suggestions about lubrication and shrinkage.

Kev.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on July 01, 2004, 10:32 PM:

CHINON 6100 & 7000

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