8mm Forum: The most popular Silent projectors ever!

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Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on August 21, 2008, 10:40 AM:

Thought I’d but this across to fellow forumers. What would you say are the post popular/worst silent projectors ever bought or used? Back in it’s hey day of the 60s and 70s and early 80s you had many different equipment manufacture’s trying to entice you, so you was really spoilt on choice.

But what did people choose to go for in spending their hard earned cash. Was it just down to the looks or the reliability and quality or maybe the name or how cheap a deal was? Or could it be that the local shop only stocked one or two brands of projector?

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on August 21, 2008, 11:00 AM:

My vote for the best silent projector would probably be the Bolex 18-5. Honorable mention to the superb Bell and Howell 606H (Regent/Filmo) and the Bolex M8, and of course the Eumig P8. In the UK, Specto's were excellent.
Worst silent projectors? There are so many! In the USA, probably anything by Argus or GAF. I also had a Bell and Howell Autoload that scratched every foot of film I put through it. Also, some of the cheap Kodak machines were very questionable, although Kodak's top end machines were generally excellent.

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on August 21, 2008, 11:18 AM:

That Bolex is a nice, well designed little machine. As an adolescent in the mid 1960's I had the standard 8 version of the Bell and Howell 436....and I ran it until it would run no more. It probably scratched the film, too...but it worked pretty well. I think the best projector I had for showing Reg. 8mm silent films, was a sound machine...the Eumig Mark S. It had a very white/bright halogen lamp..and you could set the speed change lever anywhere between the very bottom...about 16fps...to the top...about 24fps....it was quiet..built like a tank and lifted the film off the sound heads for silent operation. The threading lights were a real convenience. I wish more had them. That silent Bell and Howell you are talking about ..the old one....looks so much like the Revere model of the same vintage. I have one out in the garage...it's ok, but the bulb is not very bright....and runs to the warm side of the color spectrum. The Revere does have variable speed, which is nice.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on August 21, 2008, 01:44 PM:

I think the most common silent projectors had to be the GAF cheapies with that 3 pointed takeup reel. I remember them being everywhere when I was a kid.

To this day they are common enough that Movie Stuff makes them the basis of their transfer machines.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on August 21, 2008, 03:31 PM:

hAVE WE ALL LOST OUR MINDS?

(Just kidding)

I'm surprised that my vote hasn't already come up, that lovely little Eumig P8! Handsome little projector, built like a brick
s**thouse and pretty darn good to films!

Posted by Guy Taylor, Jr. (Member # 786) on August 22, 2008, 07:59 AM:

I love any of the old cast steel projectors.

I certainly agree that GAF was one of the worst. Other than my toy hand cranked Brumberger; my first projector as a kid was a dual 8 silent projector manufactered by GAF. I damaged a lot of films in that thing.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on August 22, 2008, 09:44 AM:

Yeah Guy ...

GAF should have just stuck to "View-Masters"!

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on August 22, 2008, 08:42 PM:

The little Zeiss Movilux sings along sweetly and shows a modest picture. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by John W. Black (Member # 1082) on August 23, 2008, 11:01 PM:

The Keystone K109 is the best reg 8 machine.I have 5 of them,bright sharp picture.The worst,Gaf,funny,they made a great super 8 sound machine,but those silents!!!!!

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on August 25, 2008, 03:46 AM:

a BELL AND HOWELL 606H is my fav silent machine, built like a house and also nice to look at.
Pat [Big Grin]

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