Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006
posted March 02, 2007 04:10 AM
In 2002 much hype was around about the new Fumeo Classic S8 Prototype projector here in the UK. My question is, did it ever get made?
-------------------- British Film Collectors Convention home page www.bfcc.biz. The site is for the whole of the film collecting hobby and not just the BFCC.
Posts: 815
From: Berlin, Germany, Europe, Earth, Solar System
Registered: Apr 2006
posted March 02, 2007 04:50 AM
Not made? Why does http://www.classichomecinema.co.uk/ still list this projector as "for sale" under "devices" then? "THE LAST 'CLASSIC S8' PROJECTOR: 2400' SPOOLS, 250W LAMP, STEREO £2500 BUILT BY FUMEO TO OUR SPECIFICATIONS - MODEL 9132 - OUR S8 SWANSONG!"
Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006
posted March 02, 2007 05:09 AM
John. Reading Keiths test report and looking at the internal pictures the machine itself may have been on a hiding to nothing. I do admire young Phil for trying though so hats off for the effort, and also to Keith for the page on the web site which helps inform.
These days there are so many used projectors around that were mass produced with high tolerance production methods, you have to wonder if another was required after all.
One of my clients we were making a video for last year had contact with a factory that did short run engineering & electrical manufacture. I did ask around at the 9.5 Get-together last year if anyone would be interested in a made to measure projector which the company were able to construct. Nope was pretty much the answer. I still think a new machine is doable, but the cost today may well make people run a mile when you can pick up a Sankyo on ebay for around the £50 mark.
Better go as doing a VHS transfer job at present that needs my eye. Crumbs, there is a bloke on the TV that looks just like Tony Rose. IT IS TONY ROSE!
posted March 02, 2007 05:40 AM
The machine on Phils website is infact the prototype. I think the real issues why this didn't see the light of day were that Phil needed to get a certain number of firm orders before it went into full production and the other was that it was playback only with no internal amplifier. This meant that you had to supply your own amp for playback of sound films.
Now at £2500 when as Lee said you could pick up machines for anything from £50 to £1000 with full playback and record facilitates, it really didn't stand a chance
When Phil gave it an airing at the BFCC it was on a small screen in the back corner of the room. It should really have been used to show some of the films during the shows which would have been far more impressive but unfortunately it would not have stood up against the GS 1200 Xenon which KW uses. Now if it had a Xenon lamp and full built in amplifier then it would have been a real beast for putting on film shows.
It would have been great to see a new machine with no problems of getting spares but sadly it wasn't to be
Kev.
-------------------- GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted March 02, 2007 05:48 AM
I think what would even be better than a new projector is if someone could produce a rebuild kit for existing ones: identify all the wear intensive hardware of a good, common model and sell it in a package.
Certainly in some cases modern components would need to be provided with some adapters to fit, but it would knock out the vast amount of costs involved.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
posted March 02, 2007 06:21 AM
Thats an interesting idea Steve. FFR in Germany are now producing the input guide which wears badly on the Elmo machines as well as having some of the other parts.
Having said that Its possible to put small rollers into the GS1200 and other models which stops it from wearing and then scratching film.
Where most other parts for these machines are concerned it possible to have motors rewound and other parts of the electronics replaced with more modern parts so it's not too bad to keep these machines running.
Yes a kit of parts would be a great idea but the cost of having moulds etc made is very expensive indeed.
Kev.
-------------------- GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.
posted March 03, 2007 04:16 AM
Phil may still have the prototype for sale. If the minor glitches were sorted out in the end then it would be a worthwhile purchase for someone looking for a Super 8 projector to last forever... or even longer.
Now what's this about TONY ROSE Lee?
-------------------- British Film Collectors Convention home page www.bfcc.biz. The site is for the whole of the film collecting hobby and not just the BFCC.
quote: FFR in Germany are now producing the input guide which wears badly on the Elmo machines as well as having some of the other parts.
Are they, really? I've contacted Ralf at FFR many times since last May and he's always answered that the parts would be in production soon. Last time I checked (before Christmas), parts weren't ready...
posted March 05, 2007 02:40 AM
Kev, yes, I know, you showed it to me in Ealing. But since then, as explained, I haven't been able to order one from FFR, they were either out of stock, or in production...