8mm Forum: Dual Gauge Projectors v Single Gauge Ones

This is topic Dual Gauge Projectors v Single Gauge Ones in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on July 30, 2018, 05:52 PM:

I've read that projectors which only cater for one gauge of film as opposed to dual gauge are generally better. Is this true and why?

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on July 30, 2018, 06:24 PM:

Dual guage projectors only have a single claw pin, so that they can accommodate the different perforation spacing of 8mm and super 8mm. This makes dual guage projectors much more fussy about handling splices and films with minor perforation damage. So there are real compromises in the design of dual guage machines and only a few manufacturers (Eumig) got it right.

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on July 30, 2018, 06:53 PM:

Thanks, Paul. Sankyo seem to have got it right as well. Did the double claw on single gauge projectors result in a more stable image on screen I wonder?

Posted by Nantawat Kittiwarakul (Member # 6050) on July 30, 2018, 08:24 PM:

That wouldn't help much for the picture steadiness,but it should be more forgiving for the bad splice/perforations (to a certain extent [Roll Eyes]

)

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on July 31, 2018, 04:30 PM:

Thanks for the feedback. I can see that single gauge projectors are better at handling poor splices and perforation damage due ti the extra claw. These are faults though which are easily fixed. So, in what other ways is a single gauge machine better than a dual gauge one?

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on August 01, 2018, 02:14 AM:

I purely practical terms a single gauge projector has less parts to loose if you need to change sprockets and toothed wheels also less wear on parts due to changing them or their position. Also on Eumig sound machines no chance of knocking off the claw if changing the gate with claw extended.
Also marginally less wear on standard 8 perforations as the claw would hit the film at a lower velocity as it wouldn't be starting moving at the Super 8 height.

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on August 01, 2018, 04:44 PM:

I know what you mean about having to change the gates and sprockets on Eumig sound machines to switch gauges. I had one where the alternative parts could be stored within the projector. With the one I have now, they're in a loose plastic box. I bet there's a fair few missing boxes with that model. I suppose that there's merit in having separate single gauge projectors for Standard 8 and Super 8. I have one of each but tend to use lever-operated dual gauge ones most of the time. Thanks, Brian.

Posted by Nantawat Kittiwarakul (Member # 6050) on August 01, 2018, 09:18 PM:

I once had Elmo FP-A dual gauge projector. While it's a good projector with bright/crisp image&dead easy to change the format with just one lever switch,the internal mechanics are so horribly complicated to achieve that. [Eek!]

Adding still/flicker-free projection function to it really makes it almost impossible to disassembly/repair.

In finally gave it up and sold it away. Then attain a simple sprocketless Yelco projector instead (rebranded Sankyo maybe [Confused]

). Not as decent as Elmo,but much less parts to go wrong. Should be more OK in the long run.

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on August 02, 2018, 02:56 PM:

Good point. The more bells and whistles there are then there's a greater chance that something will go wrong.

Posted by Jason Moffatt (Member # 4416) on August 08, 2018, 02:55 PM:

How are the dual gauge noris sound projectors like the 310 D ?

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