posted February 01, 2015 03:29 PM
Going on the recommendations given to me on the forums I purchased a Bell and Howell 10MS on eBay a couple weeks ago. I received the unit last week and last night started making sure everything worked. The unit was advertised as never used and it definitely appears that way to me. Unfortunately the take up reel has had about one third of the edges of the reel pushed inwards so that film will not fit between the edges.
I can rig something to hold the edges apart, but I'd rather either find a way to permanently push them apart or find a replacement reel. The take up reel is plastic which has memory and if it's been in this shape for a number of years (or forever for that matter) then it's going to next to impossible to reshape. That said, I've wedged a thin book inside the reel to see if I can't reshape it over a few days. See below photo.
Any ideas on either how to fix it permanently or where to find a replacement? Would a replacement have to be the exact same reel as was originally made for the 10MS? I've got a spare reel from a Kodak Instamatic M85, but it doesn't have the correct openings in the center to slide on the spindle.
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted February 01, 2015 03:42 PM
Hi Greg,
A lot of people here have used hair dryers to soften the plastic while they re-shape reels. If you use the search function and look for "hair dryer", you will see quite a few.
(Some boil 'em...you can pick up a lobster or two and make a day of it!)
I use Gepe reels for take-up. They are very well made and come in a nice storage case. I'm not sure if you need the 400 foot reel or 600 foot, but they make them both
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
posted February 01, 2015 03:55 PM
Thanks, I forgot to mention possibly using heat to reshape the reel, but I wasn't sure of the best way to do that. A hair dryer was a method I hadn't considered (and far less risky that what I was reluctantly considering!!).
Is this the Gepe reel you're referring to? B&H Photo Gepe reel. The opening for the spindle looks like it will work.
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted February 01, 2015 04:45 PM
Those are the reels, and that's where I got them too.
They are S8 reels, but include an R8 adapter.
The shame of it is 10 years ago they carried the entire Gepe range with no minimum buys. These days the odd sizes all have pretty steep minimums, especially when you only need one!
(200' and 400' are still available as single piece buys.)
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...