8mm Forum: B&H 1680?

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Posted by Richard Kemp (Member # 1621) on September 30, 2013, 01:51 PM:

Hi,

I saw a reference to a 1680 as a "TQ III", this surely cannot be correct? How do these machines differ please, I can see the slot-load on the 1680. Does the 1680 also have speed pots like the TQ III please? Presumably the 1680 will also be a two blader?

Thanks,

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 30, 2013, 02:59 PM:

As I understand it, TQIII is a generic name which covers many different models of auto-threads and slot loaders.

Posted by Richard Kemp (Member # 1621) on September 30, 2013, 06:05 PM:

Thanks Maurice,

I have a second hand TQIII and it's a beaut. It's a B&H 1693 model. How would the 1680 measure up to it do you think?

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on October 01, 2013, 02:26 AM:

I have two. A 1680B (green) and a 1680G (black). They are very useful for Conventions where a short section of film can be used for a quick demonstration, but having said that I am not all that happy with them as you can't see whether the film is accurately laced.

This is why I personal prefer the auto-loaders which, of course, you can always thread manually if you so desire.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on October 01, 2013, 02:53 AM:

Richard the TQIII are wonderful machines and come in various types. The main difference was that the economy models had belt drive such as the 2592 and the deluxe models 1698 Specialist are Magnetic(record)/Optical with variable electronic speed control, a gorgeous machine with the excellent 3 pin claw making for very steady projection of film indeed.

Posted by Richard Kemp (Member # 1621) on October 01, 2013, 08:06 AM:

Thanks Maurice and Lee,

Yes, that slot looks a little odd to me and I don't have too many worries when it comes to loading normal feed projectors. Lee, are you saying the 1698 has a variable speed dial out front please? I have never seen a picture of this. My TQIII has internal speed pots which you can cautiously manipulate but with great care. Ideally this is done with the projector turned off and unplugged or course.

I just wondered if the 1680 was also a 'pot' speed machine, I know some of the B&H models are not, and the speeds of 18 and 24fps are fixed.

Many thanks,

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on October 01, 2013, 08:16 AM:

I have a 1698 optical/magnetic playback (no record facility) and it has a two speed switch - sound or silent - not variable speed. Were there differing specs? Great machine and no sign of worm gear trouble.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on October 01, 2013, 08:49 AM:

I am not sure if I follow Lee's comments about belt drive and variable electronic speed control.

Posted by Richard Kemp (Member # 1621) on October 01, 2013, 02:54 PM:

Terry wrote: "I have a 1698 optical/magnetic playback (no record facility) and it has a two speed switch - sound or silent - not variable speed. Were there differing specs? Great machine and no sign of worm gear trouble."

I picked mine up for 20 quid, it looked dreadful but that was cosmetic, the machine in very good order. The worm gear was going but the cracks had not joined up in the middle, so I was able to stabilise the gear with resin glue. Inside the projector were the tell-tale specks of plastic from the worm, but since I checked the expansion of the gear there have been none: I inspect the interior whenever I use the projector and have had it for about 2 years now. The two speeds are set but can be altered slightly by manipulating speed pots inside the TQIII, but I would advise a specialist does this because of the danger of electric shock, and that danger is there as soon as you remove the back cover from any projector of course.

What I'd like to know is, does the B&H 1680 slot model have the same potentiometer speed control set-up please? And is it as reliable as my TQIII and won't eat my precious film!

Thanks,

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on October 01, 2013, 05:14 PM:

I also had a 1680 which I found to be very reliable. As for critisism of accurate lacing it was my experience that after threading the film through the 'slot' if you then took hold of the film at the front and rear of the path and pulled it back and forth you could feel when the film was secured in the proper path. I don't remember whether it had the variable 'pots' but I suspect that all the TQ111's have them?

Posted by Richard Kemp (Member # 1621) on October 02, 2013, 07:17 AM:

Thanks Terry. I do not like the sound of this slot model the more I hear about it. I have the same affection for my turquoise 1693 TQIII as railway enthusiasts have for steam engines. The only down side is that it is a two-blader which obliges me to transfer films at 25fps, which is a bit fast'n'furious for transfers. If I could find an equivalent projector with 3 blades I could film and transfer at between 16-17fps.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on October 02, 2013, 03:02 PM:

Some Bell & Howells previous to the TQIII models have a fixed speed motor, the speed being controlled by the frequency of the mains supply. Speed change is achieved by a lever which slips the drive belt between two different sized pulleys.

Most TQIIIs have an electronically controlled motor which is electrically switched between the two speeds, I believe it is these which have a "pot" for each speed control. Variable yes, but only to set them for the correct speeds of 18 and 24, although I suppose one of the speeds could be set for video transfer. They do not have any external means of adjusting their speeds.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on October 03, 2013, 05:59 AM:

Yes Maurice that's correct. A variable pot for each speed -18 and 24fps but you have to remove the rear cover and they are very small, but it enables a big variation of both slower and faster speeds so would easily produce a speed suitable for film transfer.

Posted by Richard Kemp (Member # 1621) on October 03, 2013, 09:11 AM:

Yes, that's what I use. I almost went crazy when I first tried to transfer on the TQIII, the results were scrambled eggs, then by fluke I discovered the projector had two blades, not three. All that meant was that I had to transfer at 25fps instead of 16&2/3fps but it can misload at that speed, it never misloads at 18fps for example. It's a great machine, it never loses a loop or jumps footage [Smile]

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