8mm Forum: Noris Record Special D

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Posted by Alexander Hutchings (Member # 3156) on August 05, 2012, 02:55 PM:

Hello Folks,
I'm a new poster on these boards, I shoot and project my own Super 8 films. I'm a relative newbie to film-work in general. I won a Noris Record Special D (silent, dual gauge) projector on ebay some years ago.

The projector is a good one, I had it serviced and overhauled a few months ago - it runs really smooth and quiet, and it never scratched my films.....until last night! [Mad]

A very faint line down the right-hand side of the image running the length of the film. It is very faint, but I notice it!

I always blow the path clean, and wipe the gate with a camel-hair brush...I'm just wondering why my projector would begin to scratch the film now?

More generally, does anyone know anything about this projector? I can't find any info on it on the internet at all? I had heard that Noris were a good reputable make? But maybe I have a duff?

Cheers, and hello to you all!
--Alex

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on August 05, 2012, 03:01 PM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8OXS5v6R9w

Is this the machine?

Posted by Alexander Hutchings (Member # 3156) on August 05, 2012, 04:26 PM:

Yeah,
That model is very similar....looks identical apart from the variable speed knob, mine just has a slider switch denoting 24fps or 18fps.

Any clues?
--Alex

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on August 05, 2012, 04:55 PM:

A very fine scratch comes from a very fine object.

I had this happen once and it turned out to be the tiniest fleck of the tape that holds the film on the reel. Until I turned the machine on it's back and searched from one end to the other with a flashlight and a magnifiying glass I couldn't see it.

An aggravating factor here is it was below the gate so I didn't know it was happening until the second time I saw a victimized print!

It damaged two films: I'm lucky it didn't take out half my collection!

It also sidelined my favorite projector for about two weeks.

(Don't we have hobbies to relieve stress?!)

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on August 05, 2012, 05:20 PM:

Question from Steve

{Don't we have hobbies that relieve stress)

No [Smile]

....never come across one.

Yesterday I was adjusting the sound cell on the old Bauer 35mm. To do this adjustment I had to take a cover off which meant my fingers would be close to the shutter spinning away. Taking great care of course [Roll Eyes]

anyway after a bit of time and just about got things right when... "ping"... one of my fingers just nicked the edge of that shutter [Mad]

mumble, mumble, a few choice words as you do. Washed the blood away, put a plaster on it and finished the job ...finger is fine now "bleeding stopped"... [Smile]

Graham.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on August 05, 2012, 06:09 PM:

True!

If there was no challenge to it there would be no point to it either!

So Alexander,

Grab your flashlight (or "torch" if you like...) and magnifier and flip that machine on its back so you can get some light in there. It comes down to either something worn or something that doesn't belong in there at all. (-make sure your rollers roll too!)

If there is some hidden path in there you may need to disassemble a little to get into it.

There is a 35mm theater near me that consistently has a line down the right side of the screen (...makes me NUTS!). I'll bet it's simply they don't keep their film paths clean!

Posted by Alexander Hutchings (Member # 3156) on August 06, 2012, 07:17 AM:

Thanks for the tips,
It looks like I'll have to get into it and see what I can see.....maybe that's why a lot of people favour cement over tape splices....no stray bits of tape to scratch our films.... [Confused]

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on August 06, 2012, 07:41 AM:

Hello Alexander. I used the Norisound range a great deal during the 1970’s as they were an excellent choice for the discerning super 8 film maker of the day. Mine was the 120 model which was quickly replaced by Noris as the 320 having some significant modifications. If you find after carefully cleaning the film path your machine continues to scratch your films it will likely be the black guide as the film exits the lower pull through sprocket wheel. My 120 machine started to do this and at that time they fitted a new guide path and the little black lever under the sprocket wheel. If you are up to the job it is worth removing these and cautiously buff with silicon spray which helps. As mentioned the Norisound range were a real film makers dream at the time with excellent crisp sound recording quality, powerful amplification and the option to upgrade through a whole range of top end lenses. The only real downside now with the benefit of hindsight is that the electronics were a little underrated often failing, the main control switch bank were of poor quality and the sound heads do wear fairly quickly so do avoid cement splices if you can as the extra thickness will pound the head as it passes. I used to love my 320 and the projected image from it was bright and sharp from every corner of the screen. Sadly the 320 died and Mr Bird who was then the expert at Cresta Electronics was no longer accessible as they had ceased trading. He knew Norisound machines inside out and was a very interesting to talk to about the machines being of great help to me. Hope my own little Noris experiences help you keep your own machine going. [Cool]

Posted by Alexander Hutchings (Member # 3156) on August 06, 2012, 11:52 AM:

Lee,
Thanks for your very interesting reply. Strangely, my Noris is silent only. This is something of an enigma to me - you would think that the name "Record" indicates a sound capacity, but it doesn't! Very strange. But I know ZERO about projectors...

Do you have any experience of the silent Noris models?

So no sound-heads here - maybe cement splices not such a bad idea then? Good to know that Noris have a good reputation - mine is certainly well engineered; it has a great lens and purrs away quietly.

**Edited to add -

Is it a good idea to clean the film path with a standard silicone spray (allow to dry thoroughly?) Will this aid lubrication of the film through the projector? Please excuse my ignorance if this is bad idea!

--Alex

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on August 06, 2012, 12:30 PM:

Mentioning the word Noris brings back some great memories of top quality screen images and I’m sure you will have seen the superb edge to edge sharpness due in main to the perfect gate design. Yes I would squirt a little silicone onto a cotton bud to clean up the plastic guides, but if brave enough I would remove them to do this. You have a great silent machine in your hands so take your time with the clean up, and if you ever come across a working 310 or 320 sound model I think you would enjoy it. Sounds like your machine is OK to me but just needs some gently love applied to it.

It’s also worth investing in a good quality film cleaner as these not only clean up your films but will also lubricate them as they progress through the projector mechanism. For old acetate films I use Film Renew and for more recent films Film Guard which is a much more modern product and quite superb. Give 'Classic Home Cinema' a bell and they will help you no end.

Posted by Thomas Dafnides (Member # 1851) on August 06, 2012, 06:48 PM:

I believe the "Record" designation meant it could synchronize with a special tape cassette deck that connected or attached to the projector.

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