Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012
posted September 26, 2016 06:21 AM
I have a question about the aluminium roller/film guide on the front of the projector. It is located directly above the film feed. I would have thought that this roller should be free turning as the film passes over it, but on the one I have it is solid and not turning. Is this how it should be? Or is it the case that it has corroded onto the axle and needs freeing up. I'm sure that Andrew has the answer.
Posts: 51
From: Tilburg, Netherlands
Registered: Jun 2015
posted September 26, 2016 07:06 AM
As far as i can see it isn't supposed to turn nor be turnable at all, in the manual there is no mention of it so i think that it functions as a film guide. Thijs.
Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012
posted September 26, 2016 08:31 AM
Thanks Thijs I'm quite surprised that it is not free turning. It would surely have assisted in the gentle film handling if it had been made as a free turning roller. I would have thought that a quality make like Bauer would have considered that.
Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012
posted September 27, 2016 02:57 AM
Here is the guide you refer to Terry, I think.
It does not typically allow the running film to come into contact with this guide. It only ever comes into effect when films are drawing to their end or if you are projecting very small 50ft films. It is supposed to be stationary and is of curved profile throughout to allow only the extreme film edges to touch it on the few occasions it comes into play.
The main guide rollers at the input guide assembly can be seen here:-
The actual rollers that come into contact with film at all times at the input guide are split into two halves and allow the edges of the film to be guided at all times only on the striped areas of the film.They run extremely freely at all times.
Because they are of a split design with a spring fitted, they also allow for slight discrepancies in film width while still handling just the very edges of the film at all times. This can be seen in better detail here:-
There are two of these guide rollers fitted around top sprocket as well as a removeable stationary guide that is removeable to allow cleaning of the area when necessary. The static removeable guide also has a stepped profile to further allow only the outer edges of the film to come into contact with the static guide which further prevents the film from any possibility of scratching by keeping the films frame away from stationary nylon.
Finally the back half of the cast stationary guide can be pivoted away from the sprocket, as seen above, to allow better access for cleaning purposes to the guide and sprocket area for the parts which cannot be removed.
[ September 27, 2016, 03:59 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]
-------------------- "C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"
Posts: 405
From: Suffolk. England
Registered: Apr 2004
posted September 27, 2016 10:48 AM
On a similar topic,ive always wondered why my 502 only has a relieved area on top rear of lamphouse,to protect film when re-winding. The t60 has a proper roller for this,which seems a better design.
Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012
posted September 27, 2016 11:01 AM
I don't believe it is any different than your 502 David. I have two 610's from completely different eras, one a fairly old original model and the second, one from the last period ever made seemingly. Both have the recessed cut out you describe built into the lamp house cover. Certainly no roller for rewinding outside of the gate.
Again, it's tapered in its contour and so only the very edges of the film come into contact with it at any time at the beginning of rewinding larger spooled films.
If the T60's differ, Bauer must feel the later design worked at least as well given these were a later model than the 60.
I have a mag/opt T192 that has the roller design you describe for rewinding but I'd say its no better / no worse in its effectiveness.
Either way, the design aspect of this particular guide on the Studio models works well and never damages any film.
-------------------- "C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"
Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012
posted September 27, 2016 01:16 PM
Andrew Thanks for that detailed explanation and yes that is the guide I referred to. Obviously it works well as there seems to have been no adverse comments made of it, but I still think it was 'penny pinching' not to have made it a free running roller. Surely any solid object that comes into contact with running film presents the danger of damage or scratching - but HeyHo - I'm very pleased with the 502 and if I get the opportunity to buy a Stereo Bauer at a reasonable price I will be sorely tempted.
Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012
posted September 27, 2016 01:57 PM
If you feel the surface texture of it Terry as well as looking at the film as it uses it to guide the film back onto reel in reverse projection mode, you will see there is no possible way it could harm any frames of your films. They never come close to touching onto this guide with the frames themselves.
[ September 27, 2016, 02:59 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]
-------------------- "C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"