8mm Forum: Racine Films - Extend-A-Reel

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Topic: Racine Films - Extend-A-Reel

Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 04, 2005 02:58 PM

Years ago, a company (Racine Films) offered a device called "Extend-A-Reel" where one could use up to 1200' reels. Does anyone have it? How does it work? Can you still get one today, anywhere?

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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted July 04, 2005 11:01 PM

I have never seen it, but had heard that they worked great.

The 1200 foot reels had 16mm square hubs, and to my knowledge there
were two reels on a spindle. One feeding and one taking up.
There was also an external attachment to regulate the speed.

This was explained to me a years ago. If I have the details incorrect,
then my apologies.

I have one of the 1200 foot reels, but have decided to hold on to it
for nostalgia purposes.

Michael

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Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!

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Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 04, 2005 11:19 PM

If anyone has picture, I would love to see what it looked like.

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted July 05, 2005 12:15 AM

Hmmmm.

I just bought something very unusual on eBay: a set of two plastic 1600ft. reels for 8mm film. The seller assured me that these reels were not 16mm reels, however they do have small square 16mm spindle holes! [Eek!]

I wonder if this has anything to do with the Extend-A-Reel unit? Is the 1200ft. reel also one of those 8mm reels with 16mm spindle holes?

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 06, 2005 01:35 PM

Lou Fazzarri , the inventor of the Extend a Reel ..was a friend of mine....his inventions were always well thought out and beautifully built....and yes...he made the large "8mm" reels from 16mm reels...carefully splitting them and reducinng them to size and putting them back together. Those 8mm reels you saw with square holes may have been some of his reels. LOu passed away many years ago...a relatively young man....from cancer. He also put out some outstanding 8mm films....features....that looked as good as Castle films......he did Ghost of Frankenstein and Animal Crackers and a number of Betty Boop cartoons. He was a huge Boop fan.

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted July 06, 2005 06:59 PM

Sad.... yet fascinating. I'm thrilled to have found out where those 8mm-look-like-16mm reels are coming from. [Smile]

(Have yet to receive them in the mail btw)

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Jeff Chaney
Junior
Posts: 20
From: Long Beach, CA, USA
Registered: Jan 2008

posted November 16, 2008 02:47 AM

I was about to post asking if anyone had a spare extend a reel for sale, but apparently these are more scarce than I previously thought. They definitely made a 1600 size and possibly a 2000. They did not put extra strain on the motor and belts because they had their own motor.

I would post pictures but I don't have privileges to do so, I put a few on a flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/meona/3034427062/in/photostream/

But yeah if anyone has a reasonably priced spare I'd be interested.
Cheers
Dino

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Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted November 16, 2008 09:16 PM

THAT explains those reels... [Big Grin]

I have a couple of them, 1600-footers:

I hadn't heard of the Racine unit before. The co-axial reel design is similar in principle to my Eiki.

Claus.

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"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

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Dan Lail
Film God

Posts: 2110
From: Loganville, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 16, 2008 09:54 PM

I have some extend-a-reels with plastic cases. Contact through my profile where you will find [Smile]

my email address.

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