8mm Forum: Elmo GS1200 For Sale. UK only.

This is topic Elmo GS1200 For Sale. UK only. in forum 8mm equipment for sale/trade at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on June 19, 2018, 08:27 AM:

I have for sale my ELMO GS 1200 projector. Serial # 825781.

The lens is an Elmo F:1.1.

It is in excellent working order and condition.

I am asking £ 850.00 for it. Payment via Paypal " as a gift " please.

I am giving forum members first offer of it.

If it does not sell it will just have to go on ebay.

The buyer will have to arrange a courier pick up from my home though as i do not drive and stay in a village. So am unable to get it to a courier depot. I can recommend UPS.

I will double box this heavy projector as secure as possible for transit and to prevent any damage.

However the upper casing does have three small holes drilled out for a Scope lens swing away bracket i no longer have. Sorry no photos at the moment as i am having a problem.

I hope to get some done and will email them to any potential buyer via Email to anyone interested hopefully in the next few days.

I am selling it due to downsizing and failing health reasons and the fact i hardly ever use it these days and the fact it is getting to heavy for me to lug around.

I have the original box for it and the microphone and the original soft cover but alas no user manual or 1200 foot spool which has gone astray due to my house move a couple of years ago.

Please PM me if you are interested.

[ June 19, 2018, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: David Hardy ]

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on June 21, 2018, 04:47 PM:

Is no one interested ? Time is running out.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on June 23, 2018, 03:10 AM:

Price reduced to £ 800. 00 .

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on June 23, 2018, 06:57 AM:

Hello David

If you have some photos of your GS it would help to promote your sale - feel free to email them to me and I will be happy to resize and upload them here for you.

Kevin

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on June 25, 2018, 10:21 AM:

Kevin thanks.

Its just about to go on Ebay. I am a bit reluctant to do so though.

I have messaged you.

[Smile]

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on June 25, 2018, 05:13 PM:

Please see below some of the pictures David sent me of his GS1200 for sale:

Kevin

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on June 26, 2018, 02:40 AM:

Kevin

Thanks again for your very kind help loading the pictures for me.

Cheers ! [Smile]

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on June 27, 2018, 03:46 AM:

It is now listed for sale on Ebay too [Big Grin]

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on July 04, 2018, 11:33 AM:

Well i must state i am rather surprised thus far there has been no response or interest in this alleged "Rolls Royce" of a Super 8mm projector.

Do people feel my asking price is rather high ? [Smile]

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on July 04, 2018, 01:59 PM:

The GS normally sells at around £500 David, give or take a bit. Yours is a nice clean one so you are starting higher than normal on flea bay. The xenon sells for more, but you have the higher cost of lamps etc, perhaps start lower and put a reserve on it, nothing to loose if you got no bids......

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on July 05, 2018, 05:52 AM:

Paul thanks for letting me know that. [Smile]

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on July 07, 2018, 06:14 PM:

What? Have these machines experienced a drop in their re-sale value? They used to sell for about £1,000 or a little more in Euro, Is there less demand?

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on July 08, 2018, 05:00 AM:

Maurizio

It may be the case the GS1200 has lost some of its value here only in the UK.

However i do not know this for sure as dealers tend to sell them from £ 895.00 upwards depending on the condition and whether it is Xenon lamped or not . [Eek!]

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on July 08, 2018, 05:29 AM:

They are a beautiful machine, but many enthusiasts feel that they are over engineered and can be problematic because of it. There was a time when I seriously considered getting one, but when you hear the experiences of owners, it tends to dissuade potential buyers. It certainly did for me.
For me that is the reason for the fall in prices. Any prospective purchaser would have to factor in expensive spares and repairs/ service costs.

Posted by Del Phillipson (Member # 513) on July 08, 2018, 05:55 AM:

Hi David, I have 2 GS1200 machines and I love them both, my second one was from Ian which was £800 and that was only last year so the price is there or thereabouts. They are still being advertised by sellers at £1,000.00 + but.............

The problem you will have, and this is only my opinion is it looks to be an early mark 1 machine with only a 1.1 lens, both mine are the later mark 3 machines and both have the much desired 1.0 lens. This could be a reason you aren't getting the interest you hoped for, hope this helps, Del.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on July 09, 2018, 05:42 AM:

Terry and Dell thanks for your contributions to my question. I am now having second thoughts about my asking price.

I may now reduce it quite a bit but just sell it with an F:1.3 lens instead in order to justify my price reduction. I am sure any Elmo GS1200 fan could find an alternative lens. I will use the Elmo F:1.1 lens elsewhere. [Smile]

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on July 09, 2018, 08:32 AM:

Thanks for everyone's inputs.... I still think the (alleged) over engineering of this machine is part of its charm: there are things you can only do with this projector and the fact it's built very well (that is resieliently) is very important, of course apart from those plastic parts which may scratch BUT everybody now should be able to fix them for good. This machines love to be used: the most important parts, like claw, shutter, gate, heads etc are made to last (almost) forever: you can screen your films repeatedly on a daily basis and these parts will hardly develop wear marks: try that with a Bauer or a Beaulieu or Eumig!!!

I myself own a Mark I version and never had big issues apart from the known ones: once sorted, it runs and runs and runs.... Never let critical components (such capacitors) rest for too long and this machine will serve you for years: plus there are people very well in "the know" on both sides of the pond, who can strip this projector and fix any problems. Parts don't seem to be an issue, either....

I am afraid the fact people tend to be put off by this machine (which resulted in developing a bad reputation, of late) is also down to its being spoken about in a bad way more often than not and this is very sad because they are missing great chances: I mean come on, how can one prefer a 708 priced (in general) at € 1000+ (a machine which is not void of inherent pitfals especially re. the double motor system) and dismiss GS 1200s?... And let's not forget the Elmo 1.0 is the sharpest lens in the world...

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on July 09, 2018, 01:43 PM:

The problem with ALL Super 8 projectors is that they were not intended for film collectors but movie makers who shot super 8 and ran the odd package movie. In regards to Elmo 1200 series ST and GS over engineered and totally unreliable to a film collector who runs features. A comparison to Apple 1st run products before they iron out the quirks or those Samsung phones that keep you warm by going on fire would be apt. I have known many collectors who have bought Elmo 1200 and been all smiles😃 at the start before it turn to tears 😭😭😭😭when their dream machine give them more heartache than they can cope with. I can think of many shows were they have been the projector and you hear more pops cracks and weird noises on a soundtrack that have never been heard before. They also seem to nearly book an annual holiday for themselves to be serviced to try and remove problems with some little expert projector man. I knew one projector that went away for a year came back fixed only to develop another problem within weeks.

I like and used the small Elmos 160, 180 and 800s, Sanyko 800s and Bell & Howells DCR DCTs. T all class workhorses and reliable and kind to films.

Have to say David your machine looks the bees knees and if I took an insanity tablet I would buy it but would need to eat more spinach to carry it these days.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 09, 2018, 02:17 PM:

Have to say, we have had three Elmo ST1200HD's for 35/40 years and aside the usual servicing and replacing a few worn items, we have never really had any trouble. With well over 300 features these machines are all still going strong.
I dont think any machines were designed to go on forever, certainly not the 30/40 years or more that many are doing.
I always fancied the GS but for our use, it is way over engineered for what we need it for. Great for those who want to re rerecord soundtracks.
I wouldn't say the St1200 series was over engineered though [Wink]

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on July 10, 2018, 09:12 AM:

You are lucky Tom. You must have had your ST 1200s from either new or with little use. I bought two ST 180 new in 1987 and 1988 and have never had any issues. Any ST1200s I was offered or came across we clapped out / worn out. As you say they werent over engineered it was the GS1200 who had that fault. I remember a collector trying to buy new GS1200s around 1985/86 with no success so I would say most machines are 40 years old.

Posted by Del Phillipson (Member # 513) on July 10, 2018, 11:03 AM:

It's a pleasure David, don't be too put off though, I have seen spares and repair machines go on ebay for £4/500.00, could also be the time of the year, it's flippin hot and projectors are not at the front of most people's minds. Maybe when we get to September give it another try, anyway good luck with it, they are terrific machines.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 10, 2018, 03:28 PM:

I think your right Mike, certainly the one i use the most which has been serviced with Bill over the last 10 years was almost new when i bought it. I also bought a fair few spares from Hanimax when they were around including many of the green second sprocket guides which on the HD's seem to cause a problem when worn.
Regarding Davids for sale, i think Dell's probably right, it is so hot in the UK at the moment i cant see too many people looking in or viewing films, however, where i live i am very lucky that my film room is the coolest part of the house not getting much above 15/18C all year round, (so far), so at the moment i am in there more than usual.

Sorry to go off topic here, (got carried away [Big Grin]

),
Anyway David, im sure that machine will go, its certainly not over priced from what ive seen around. [Wink]

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on July 10, 2018, 03:34 PM:

I have no regrets having switched from ST1200HD units to the mighty GS1200. For awhile there yes it was very frustrating in fact from what I’ve learned from all of this I have valuable information to give anyone considering the same idea .

I am proud to say all my GS machines are now serviced and although they have certain quirks of each one they appear to run my prints very good.

I will stay with the GS1200.

Chip G

Posted by Thomas Edwards (Member # 6161) on July 11, 2018, 05:55 AM:

Get a Beaulieu twin track no problems.more reliable than the stereo version super wide aperture on the lens simple to work on and release the film half way if you get a problem and finally does not scratch.

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on July 11, 2018, 07:00 AM:

I was reading a review on the chinon SS1200 last night, and was surprised to read they retailed at £795.00?, no wonder so many GS1200's are around. All the high end projectors have there own problems, you pays you money you takes your choice, you can't have an omelette without breaking a few eggs.....

[ July 11, 2018, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Paul Browning ]

Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on July 11, 2018, 12:07 PM:

I personal use Beaulieu or Fumeo projectors as these were made and design to show full features in one go. They are quite simple module construction. So if a part goes it is easily replaced.

Both only use one motor with minimal components so you have trouble free operation for many years to come if looked after well. Also the film path is very small in comparison to an Elmo. Less likely to ruin your priceless film collection and very easy to clean.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on July 11, 2018, 05:14 PM:

I am a FUMEO 9119 for Super 8mm man myself.

As they said in their adverts ... " TOOLS NOT TOYS " [Smile]

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on August 05, 2018, 11:50 AM:

Now reduced to £ 650.00 but with an Elmo F:1.3 Zoom Lens. [Smile]

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on August 05, 2018, 05:03 PM:

You were lucky with your Fumeo David. I knew a collector who bought Fumeo from Derann. He raved about it being a professional projector. It did look good but it very quickly developed technical problems. I think there was a second one and it went the same way. Eventually, he did some sort of deal for a Elmo with them. They didn't even ask for the second one back so it end up as a door stop.

Anyway good luck with your Elmo I am surprised it hasn't been snapped up. Summer holidays and heat you will definitely sell in Autumn. Hold your price!!

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on September 10, 2018, 05:33 PM:

SALE ON HOLD for the present. Sorry !

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