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Author
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Topic: GS1200 - Never a dull moment
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted March 09, 2015 12:27 PM
Last night I ran about an hour of film through one of my GS1200's, and everything was fine. Then, after about a 30 minute shut down, I loaded up another reel and switched the power on, and the heat filter started vibrating in and out with a very loud knocking noise. At the same time the projector refused to go into a forward, or reverse, running mode. I powered up and down several times and the problem refused to go away. So I went to bed assuming I had a major repair job ahead of me. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
This morning I powered the projector back up, and now all is fine again!
Never a dull moment with these tempramental machines! ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted March 10, 2015 07:03 AM
I have owned elmo 1200HD's since I bought my first one brand new in the mid 70's. They are indeed reliable machines. Arm them with a faster lens, f1.1 or f1.0 and the very best bulbs, hook their monitor left and right outputs into an amp with good speakers....and you will have a machine that can come close to the GS, especially with screens less than 9 or ten feet wide.
That said, the Gs's I own, also armed with f1.0 lenses..and the best bulbs, designed for super 8 apetures, will provide a brighter picture for larger presentations. I use the 1200Hd's for my booth at home...and the Gs's for larger venues, the local library and outdoor shows.
HOWEVER....for the electronically challenged like myself...when the GS misbehaves, there's not much the novice can do about it. But when the 1200hd's or standard 1200's misbehave, even a person like me can go in there, fiddle around with belts and pulleys and such and generally get them running again.
When I give large screen shows with super 8, I use the GS's, BUT I ALWAYS TAKE A SPARE 1200HD WITH ME AS A BACKUP. Like I say, you can get VERY high performance out of 1200HD's when they are well adjusted and have the faster lenses and better bulbs.
I love em both.
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted March 11, 2015 12:43 PM
Well I talked to Leon this morning. Even though the projector is working fine right now it still has one issue of seconary importance, namely that in reverse projection the film is not being taken up on the top feed spool. Leon tells me that this is a problem with one of the relays, the smaller relay that controls the front spool shaft motor. This involves pulling out the main board which is a tedious job, but I have done it before, many years ago, when I replaced the rear relay that controls the rear take up motor.
I am hoping that the heat filter probem, which has now gone away, is associated with this front relay problem, so that replacing the relay may solve both issues.
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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Jon Addams
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 638
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Apr 2007
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posted March 11, 2015 01:52 PM
quote:
"Personally, I have no real desire to own either of them, if I had to pick one of them though, only a GS1200 would be able to satisfy my needs from a projector."
I agree Andrew, I don't particularly care for either one of them BUT on the Elmo line, I love the ST-1200 M/O with the 1.0 lens.
My main projector is the 708EL which I bought (2 of them) on September 26, 1980. I use them regularly and they have never given me any major problems.
quote:
"I am hoping that the heat filter problem, which has now gone away, is associated with this front relay problem, so that replacing the relay may solve both issues."
Hello Paul,
That solution may solve both issues. However, chances are something else may "pop-up" once those issues are solved. In my opinion, Murphy's Law was written for the Elmo 1200 GS ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Jon
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Andrew Woodcock
Film God
Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012
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posted March 11, 2015 02:10 PM
I get exactly what you are saying Jon, after all you only have to look at the number of posts on forums and the huge amount of different problems associated with the GS 1200 to realize they are extremely prone to problems and reliability issues in general.
I would have thought though, by now, with all those micro switches changed out for new, all those capacitors changed or uprated, all those relays changed for more reliable modern ones.. that things for a well looked after and serviced one, would settle down somewhat.
After all you don't hear of too many motors failing on them or magnetic heads that need changing etc etc.
It all seems to be the electro mechanical stuff including switches and piano keys etc.
BTW Jon, as you have owned your two 708's since 1980, have you had to change any magnetic heads on either of those two yet?
[ March 11, 2015, 04:58 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]
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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted March 11, 2015 03:02 PM
Andrew has hit on one of the GS1200'S greatest virtues - the sound heads. Manufactured from a magnetic alloy called Sendust, the heads of the GS seem indestructible. This, more than any other factor, may enable the GS1200 to outlive all other projectors. All the other stuff is fixable, even if it may eventually demands improvisation.
With the work being done by Edmond Van Eck and others, the life of the GS and many other machines may be extended significantly, but only as long as the heads hang in.
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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