posted February 04, 2010 05:26 AM
Any one dealt with this person before and has used he sets of belts for Elfs/Eiki.
Do you know if they are any good and if they are compatible with the older RM (Blue) models. I have been told that the belts are made from Nitrile Rubber?
Posts: 230
From: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Registered: Aug 2008
posted February 04, 2010 02:43 PM
This is probably a good time ...... I was talking to Ken Valentine about belts (he organises all mine for the Elfs etc) and his prices seem to be about 1/3rd of ES & Lees (You'd expect anyone to beat them!) I'm going to try to get him to set something up for selling, either thru his partner or thru me. If I see any expressions of interest here I'll get him moving!! For those who don't know him, he is the REAL 'Mr. Pathe' having started with them as a boy and ending up apparently running things. Cheers, David E
-------------------- I've NEVER let failure go to MY head!
posted February 04, 2010 05:00 PM
Hi David maybe you can help i am actually after 6 full sets of belts for the RM series of Elfs. If you can help drop me aline via email.
Posts: 85
From: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK
Registered: Jun 2009
posted February 04, 2010 05:40 PM
Eddie Smythe. An ex member of the Projected Picture Trust and all my colleagues there hold him in high regard. However if you can get the belts elsewhere cheaper go for it!
Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
posted February 04, 2010 07:59 PM
A key thing regarding the price of belts is whether they are ones actually manufactured by Eiki or are 'copies' made by others, which are liable to be much cheaper. Belts not manufactured by Eiki might be perfectly OK, but on the other hand you sometimes hear of inferior ones that (e.g.) might not have the correct tension. So as some of the cheaper belts can be a false economy, it's helpful to know if others have been happy with what they have bought from a particular supplier. When it comes to the more sophisticated belts used in the later Elfs/Eikis, there may not be any copies on the market.
Posts: 230
From: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Registered: Aug 2008
posted February 05, 2010 05:05 AM
Following Adrian's piece - someone needed the large toothed belt for an Elf (RM,I think). Elf quoted £48 as it is very special. I took the old belt to a belt (auto) spares firm and was quoted £14 - I bought 3 for £21 (cash, natch!). Personally, I run my EX-4000P with a main drive belt that cost £175 for 2 (but we did get a free sewing machine!), actually a vacuum cleaner belt. It also has a rewind belt that was quoted as 'only' £32 - Ken got them from his supplier for about £6. Philosophically - I don't mind if a belt goes in half the time an original woud have done if it only costs a quarter of the price!! Just my tuppenny-haypenny view. Cheers, David E
-------------------- I've NEVER let failure go to MY head!
Posts: 1269
From: Thetford , Norfolk,England
Registered: May 2008
posted February 05, 2010 05:52 AM
I've used Ken Valentine in the past for Elmo Belts... very satisfied both with service and price. But remember for ordinary (non-speciality) belts of 3 and 5 mm material diameter I can offer belting to make up yourself at £1-75 and £2-75 per metre inc UK postage.
Martin
-------------------- Retired TV Service Engineer Ongoing interest in Telecine....
posted February 05, 2010 07:26 AM
Thanks chaps for your valuable input. I know partly it's also down to what the belts are made out of that also can cause a slight problem with them working well.
So i guess it is either getting original Eiki belts or getting a closest substitute for the purpose.
What I need is 6 full sets of belts for the RM1 models; so if anyone can help me in obtaining the best belts at a good price please do get in touch. As I really would value your knowledge and experience. I do know that the NT1 and RM1 are slightly different machines with regards to what belts they actually use I have been told.
posted February 13, 2010 08:14 AM
Well id thought i give you an update with using the various replacement belts on the market. E S Photo graphics is certainly a no no. It seems they supply all the belts at the same thickness and are not the correct size?
The only person i have bought from who gives satisfactory results that has done be proud for the NT series is Cine Belts UK Hugh McCullough. He originally kindly sent me a sample and from then on i have always bought replacements belts from him.
I now need to find the correct belts for the RM series so if any one can point me in the right direction i would be more then grateful.