8mm Forum: GAF 2388 Z - is it dual or not?

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Topic: GAF 2388 Z - is it dual or not?

Thomas Christoph
Junior
Posts: 6
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Registered: Jul 2011

posted August 09, 2011 03:27 PM

I just picked up a GAF 2388Z projector with one of those achromatic lens boxes. When I purchased it (second hand), I was told it was a dual (8mm & Super 8) projector. I've found limited information on the net on this projector (sadly didn't get a manual for it either). Some say it's only 8mm, others say it's a dual.

Looking at the mechanics of the projector, it looks like it's simply an 8mm projector and not a dual.

Can anyone tell me for sure, if it's a dual or simply a plain 8mm silent projector (which is what I think it is).

Thanks for your time.
Thomas

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 09, 2011 03:43 PM

It is Dual-8:

GAF 2388 Z

I remember this machine (or one very similar) very well. The lady across the street had one when I was growing up and I really enjoyed movie nights over there when I was a little kid. I became a film collector without owning any equipment at all, so it was a machine like this one that I watched my first prints on, since she was nice enough to let me use it.

(Looks like there is a slider directly astern of where the film enters the machine to select regular/super)

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Thomas Christoph
Junior
Posts: 6
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Registered: Jul 2011

posted August 09, 2011 04:08 PM

Thanks for your reply...

I don't see a lever anywhere on it that would do that... Looking inside, it looks like there's only one set of teeth that seem to match up with the holes in standard 8mm film. However, I haven't compared the holes in super8 film to see if the spacing is different. YES, I'm pretty new to the film game.

Here are some photos of the business side of it... see what you think... Let me know if additional photos would help figure out the mystery.

Thomas

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Pasquale DAlessio
Film God

Posts: 3523
From: Bristol,RI, USA
Registered: May 2010

posted August 09, 2011 05:23 PM

Hi Thomas

Check this link for info on the 2388Z'

[URL=http://www.super8data.com/]http://www.super8data.com/

This link is where you can buy a manual:

http://www.photobooksonline.com/books/manual26.html

PatD

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 09, 2011 08:49 PM

There's a 2388Z on E-bay right now, we're going to borrow their photo for a minute:

(It's image 2 in this set of photos)

2388Z

If you look pretty much dead center in the image you can see a slider that is marked "Super 8mm" and "Standard". You can see where the slider belongs in your photo but the parts don't seem to be there.

I wonder what "Focus Scan MX" is? Could it be your machine has been modified for Telecine and these parts were removed? The Workprinter telecine machines are usually built with GAF machines like this one. I believe they change the gate so the video camera can "see" the entire film surface (including the sprocket holes).

It's possible that this slider slid a gate with two sets of apertures (S8/R8), but now it's not there at all.

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Martin Baumgarten
Junior
Posts: 7
From: Plattsburgh, New York USA
Registered: Jul 2011

posted August 09, 2011 10:22 PM

This original GAF projector was built as a Dual 8mm unit. It has been modified by the seller...so it's either for both gauges without any need for adjustment setting, since he probably filed the gate out. You can always contact the maker, Chin Kim at Focus Photo (25 year plus professional photography lab in Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-663-0800 ). He sells his custom made Film Transfer Units on eBay, and has a very excellent reputation.

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Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted August 09, 2011 11:29 PM

I concur. I actually owned more than one of these and the GAF Dual units didn't use sprocket drive components. Instead, they utilized a sort of "push" mechanism that would simply push the film (regardless of guage) through the film channel and then onto the take-up reel. It was very common for dual projectors to utilize this sort of mechanics.

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Thomas Christoph
Junior
Posts: 6
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Registered: Jul 2011

posted August 10, 2011 01:48 PM

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. Every time I visit this forum and have some time to read through the posts (including of course this one), I learn so much. What a great community.

I managed to get my hands on a Super8 silent movie, loaded it and it played just fine on this rig. Terrific!

This unit has most certainly been modified for the purposes of telecine. I can also confirm that when playing an 8mm film, you can see the entire film, including where the sprocket holes are.

Last night I captured one of my test 8mm films, and successfully cropped out that part of the film after the fact. Turned out pretty good.

Thomas

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