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Author
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Topic: Bell and Howell 540
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James Peterson
Film Handler
Posts: 64
From: Williamsburg, VA, USA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted September 19, 2013 01:54 PM
I got a manual thread Bell and Howell 540 today that I like. It generally runs quietly, the valve/tube sound is very good and clear, the belts all seem good and taut, and the worm gear is undamaged. I'm not home, so I only have one film with me now
Through all of the white leader and the first few seconds of the film, most of the time, it runs good and quietly showing a great, sharp picture. After a few seconds I get a clatter and the picture shows multiple frames jumping instead of each frame--almost like the claws arent gripping the perforations. If I reverse it while it is like that, the upper loop vanishes--but the loop never is lost in forward even when it is clattering. When running right, reverse keeps the loop fine. The gate is clean and shiny.
Any ideas?--seems like the gate pressure is not tight enough. How loose/tight should the pressure springs be? There is a little bolt that acts like a door stop for the swing lens assembly. Should I adjust that little bolt?
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James "Pete" Peterson II
Far too many machines--I'm sick
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James Peterson
Film Handler
Posts: 64
From: Williamsburg, VA, USA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted September 20, 2013 10:10 AM
20 minutes!! I was there yesterday!!
Can't find a 540 operators manual anywhere. I have the online version of the 535 manual that references that there is a lamp and how to remove it, but not what it is...
As far as the inching knob, Some models like the Kodak Pageant and the Victor machines have a line on the inching knob to assist with the claws during threading. I guess B/H didn't think it was important on the post 1961 models?
Speaking of tricky--that Bell and Howell video of the 535 makes it seem easy to place tension on the sound drum--seems like a 3 hand operation to me! Film perforations sticking to sprocket before you're ready for them to stick, too much tension, too little tension, underwater sound, tension headache, etc...I need an aspirin...LOL!
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James "Pete" Peterson II
Far too many machines--I'm sick
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Robert Crewdson
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1031
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted September 21, 2013 03:39 AM
James, I wanted one of these special plugs, or adaptors, that allow you to use an existing speaker. I tried 2 sources in the UK, one can't find a new supplier, and Classic Home Cinema say they have a boxful of them but can't find them. I never heard any more from them, I guess it wasn't a big enough sale. Can't seem to find one from audio and hi-fi sellers, so for now am using the internal speaker.
If you Google Paul Ivester, and look under the section on B&H projectors, you will find what lamps your machine takes.
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