8mm Forum: DUO SOUND PROJECTOR INFO PLEASE

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Topic: DUO SOUND PROJECTOR INFO PLEASE

Thomas Smith
Master Film Handler

Posts: 313
From: Barking, Essex, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted February 27, 2012 03:43 PM

any info please on the Duo Sound Projector is it reliable
i think it was made in italy they also done a dual gauge
machine thanks [Wink]

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t.smith

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted February 28, 2012 03:32 AM

Hello Thomas. On the surface they look a little plastic but actually they were fitted with a high quality lens and do take 800ft spools which was handy. The Duo can be spotted in various guises and were badged by other companies including the Pathe brand. On offer were twin track models and also dual gauge sound machines which were quite light weight and the electronics inside the box did not rely on special unobtainable modules. When I had a Duo the only thing that went wrong was to replace a drive belt. I found them to be a projector kind to film with a simple film path and easy to maintain. Hope this helps..

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John Clancy
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1954
From: Cornwall
Registered: Jun 2003

posted February 28, 2012 04:07 AM

Then again I have a Duo that I purchased brand new in the late 80s - it quickly wore out and was capable of putting thick emulsion scratches down my precious prints and managed to do this on a regular basis if I didn't really keep an eye on things.

This is the problem with plastic film guides but the Duo seemed particularly prone to it.

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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.

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Thomas Smith
Master Film Handler

Posts: 313
From: Barking, Essex, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted February 28, 2012 06:14 AM

hello lee and john thanks for info was the dual gauge projector
any good i think it used a switch to change the gauge over

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t.smith

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Paul Spinks
Master Film Handler

Posts: 453
From: Barking, Essex, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted February 28, 2012 09:33 PM

Hi Tom,
I recently bought a Duo Track 480 Electronic Sound Super 8 Projector from a forum member on ebay and really like it. It's a solid workhorse, projects a sharp and steady image, takes 800ft reels, has bass and treble controls, an excellent Schneider Xenovar F 1.2 15.5 - 28mm zoom lens and is uncomplicated and reliable. I would certainly buy another if one in good working order came along.

Paul.

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Thomas Smith
Master Film Handler

Posts: 313
From: Barking, Essex, UK
Registered: Dec 2009

posted February 29, 2012 08:11 AM

hello paul the reason i ask the question about this make of
projector was because i was told that parts were hard to find
must mean drive belts,also that the dual gauge machine was very
poor and the switch that change the gauge to super or standard 8 was not reliable and caused damage to film ?

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t.smith

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Colin Robert Hunt
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 226
From: Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire
Registered: Aug 2005

posted February 29, 2012 03:30 PM

Not a brand that really made the mark. Have had experience of these and agree the plastic gate does not treat film that well. If you are buying then a not very used one is the best bet, because they are not built for heavy use. And if al goes wrong who going to fix them? Stick with the major brand makes and at least you have a chance of repair in most cases. The slider contols is another point and have found that this also is not a good idea, causing some noise on wear from fellow collectors machines.

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted March 01, 2012 05:18 AM

Um, I think some seem to be comparing this quietly to a GS1200 which it is not. The Twin track Duo was a fairly inexpensive machine which was light, came with a superb lens and interesting features such as independent volume control for each track. Although unlike the Elmo GS1200 it didn’t spill light all over your ceiling from the lamp house illuminating your audience. Have a bit of a soft spot for the Duo and yes on the dual 8 model it changed gauges at the flick of a switch which worked but did seem a bit flimsy. The twin track model was quite a nice little machine for the home and from memory took the same drive belt as the Norisound projectors. With 800ft spool capacity, top quality German lens they were quite a steal for modest money then.

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