8mm Forum: I am very new to 8mm and could use a lot of help!

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Posted by Rachelle Tolbert (Member # 4364) on July 21, 2014, 10:22 PM:

I recently got a Bell & Howell model 253-R at a barn sale for cheap... it still works and I thought it was pretty neat. I like early technologies and how innovative they were, so that's mainly why I got it. I then went on ebay and purchased a few 8mm films that weren't too expensive... but they're super 8 format. They are both disney (Sorcerer's Apprentice from Fantasia, and the Prince vs the Dragon from Sleeping Beauty).

I then came to realize (this is how little I know about this stuff) that super 8 reels have a different sized center hole from normal 8mm reels. SO I bought some plastic adapters that fit into the center of the super 8 reels. However, the adapters I got were way too tight when combined with the reel and the projector's spindle... what I mean is they fit perfectly inside the reel, and they slide perfectly onto the spindle without the reel, but when I fit the adapter in the reel and then try to squeeze it onto the spindle it just goes on halfway before stopping because it appears to be too tight.

Did I get the wrong ones? There only seem to be 1 type of adapters on ebay so I figured they were all universal... but if they were universal then how come it doesn't fit when the reel is put onto the spindle? [Frown]

Any help would be appreciated. The adapters I got were these ones.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on July 21, 2014, 10:41 PM:

Welcome to the forum Rachelle. Unfortunately from what I can tell the B & H 253R is a Regular 8mm only projector. This means it will not play Super 8mm film. So even if you could get the reel mounted the film wouldn't feed into the projector since the sprocket holes are smaller and won't align with the motion of the claw.

Posted by Rachelle Tolbert (Member # 4364) on July 21, 2014, 10:44 PM:

Oh no! really? That is a shame [Frown]

I guess I will hang onto the film I bought in case I manage to get another projector in the future... Is my model the ONE model that doesn't play super 8 or something? lol That would be my luck.

Posted by Raymond Glaser (Member # 1766) on July 21, 2014, 10:45 PM:

Hi Rachelle - Welcome aboard !!! - This is THE place for your new hobby, the folks here will definately steer you in the right direction ... Unfortunately, even if the adapters fit the projector spindles the films won't run on it because Standard 8mm and Super 8 films have different size sprocket holes and your projector would just chew up the films and make them unusable - You need a SUPER 8 projector to run your Super 8 films (or a DUAL projector - which will run both film formats)

Posted by Rachelle Tolbert (Member # 4364) on July 21, 2014, 10:57 PM:

Well.. I guess this was a lesson that cost me a bit! haha [Frown]

Luckily I did not spend more than 50 bucks on all that stuff, so it wasn't an expensive lesson. Maybe someday I can get a super 8 projector. If I do can you recommend what brands I should get? I'd be particularly interested in a sound projector.... but I probably won't be buying one any time soon.

I managed to slip the mickey mouse film reel onto the projector but the sleeping beauty one is giving me problems.

However, like you guys said the holes don't line up, so there goes that... what a bummer haha.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on July 21, 2014, 11:10 PM:

Welcome Rachelle. As said before you will not be able to project Super 8 films with a standard 8 projector but you didn't loose anything buying the projector and the films : you can still purchase standard 8 films and, later a Super 8 (or a dual gauge, but then be sure it is standard 8/super 8 and ot single 8/super 8 one) projector.

Posted by Raymond Glaser (Member # 1766) on July 21, 2014, 11:19 PM:

Dominique is right --- Single 8 is just another name for Super 8 - Single 8 is NOT the same as Standard 8mm

Posted by Rachelle Tolbert (Member # 4364) on July 21, 2014, 11:21 PM:

Well does anyone have a solution for the one reel that IS tight? In case I ever need to use those adapters in the future? Not sure why the Sorcerer's apprentice fit fine but the sleeping beauty one is so tight.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on July 22, 2014, 02:31 AM:

Rachelle
The following link shows a pic of the difference between the Super 8 and Regular 8mm gauges.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_8_film

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