|
Author
|
Topic: Beaulieu 708 EL Headache
|
Isaac Mathes
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2008
|
posted November 11, 2008 08:59 AM
Greetings to the 8mm Forum community!
I am a cinematographer who dabbles in Super 8 on his own film projects.
Alas, it was I who purchased the Beaulieu 708 EL projector listed on eBay back in January, 2008. A few of you in the Forum commented on that listing and thought that this particular make and model of projector, coming from a seller with zero feedback, should be avoided.
Well, weighing “caveat emptor” versus “carpe diem”, I bought the thing.
Upon arrival, the 708 EL hardly looked used at all, except for some cracks in the flimsy plastic housing covering the backside. But when I plugged it in, it wouldn’t run. Only the “on” light lit up and a faint, low hum came out of the machine’s motor.
To my untrained eye, nothing looked broken or loose inside. I packed up the machine and sent it to Leon Norris in Pennsylvania. (To make matters worse, en route to him the UPS folks apparently dropped the package and bent the projector’s instrument panel, which juts out along the bottom.) Leon’s advice after opening the Beaulieu up and looking around, ‘I’m not sure what’s wrong with it. I can’t make it go. Buy an Elmo.’
Next, I sent the ill-starred 708 EL to Connie Lang on Long Island for a second opinion. His response was, ‘I can’t fix this. You could try sending it to a specialist in Europe (at significant cost) or you could get a different make of projector, for which parts are more readily available.’
My question to the Forum is, what would you do now? Is it worth sending the Beaulieu 708 EL to someone else, to a Beaulieu specialist in Europe (I’ve read a post in the Forum about a certain “Bjorn” in Sweden, for example), or should I just cut my losses and look for an Elmo?
Secondly, instead of junking the 708 EL outright, is there anyone out there who would want parts from it?
Incidentally, the eBay seller’s listing for this projector said “runs great”, but, after several e-mail exchanges with them, it is my hunch they had no experience with actually using this- or any other- projector.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts,
Isaac Mathes
“emptor stolidus”
| IP: Logged
|
|
Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1733
From: Brooksville, FL
Registered: Jun 2003
|
posted November 11, 2008 10:55 AM
Sounds like a machine that I actually owned. The model you have could have been in my basement. I traded it along with some films and rewinds. I got a splicer and an Elmo ST1200hd.
If that Ebay seller was from Massachusetts, then this should be correct. I originally bought the unit from a man in California. And it was upon shipping to me that UPS damaged the bottom of the unit.
When I got mine, the projector did run but had no sound. It turned out the playback lines on the circuit board were cracked when UPS dropped the item. A technician from a local shop performed a bypass with soldering, and did restore sound playback.
The machine ran OK, although it was in need of servicing and I could not find someone who could do it. When the oppertunity for trade arose I could not pass it up. The stuff I got in exchange worked extremely well as of last night infact.
I am not saying or can I prove this was my machine. But your description of what you have sounds like a perfect match.
The newer version of the 708EL is a beauty, where mine and probably yours is way outdated. It is similiar to the Elmo ST1200HD. The current version of the 708EL is more like the GS1200. New 708EL units are custom made and as far as I know they are about (guessing) $5,000.00 USD each.
Based on your letters to the seller and your hunch they know nothing about the machine....if you paid recently and did so by Paypal I encourage you to file a claim for refund...although it may be too late for you to due this. Paypal buyer protection is great. If you don't receive an item, or you purchase one item but receive something else, PP Buyer protection gives you rights that you can execute and is justified.
CG
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isaac Mathes
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2008
|
posted November 12, 2008 09:10 AM
Alan, I'll give Duall a call and get their opinion on whether my 708 EL can be repaired. Sending to Bjorn in Sweden would be prohibitively expensive for me at this point.
There are two English language manuals with the 708 EL- they were printed in 1978. Not sure if this accurately dates the projector. 1978 would make this an older model, yes?
I also have a Bolex SM80 with a Bolex Multicoated 1.2/12.5-25 lens. It runs, but is finicky. I think the pulldown mechanism is old and worn. The rewind function works when the speed is set at 18 fps, but not at 24fps, etc. Anyone know if this projector is readily repairable?
Jean-Marc, I need a Super 8 projector for at-home review of images I've shot on Super 8 at 24fps (no sound), and for transfers to digital video. I shoot the projected image "off the wall", without speed control or a special shutter, and edit the images in Final Cut Pro. I intend to go back and conform the Super 8 master positive and optically blow up to a larger film format for the film's release. (see my Optical Blowups topic.)
So minimally, I require a projector that is bright, sharp, steady and runs at a fairly even 24fps. A projector customized for transfers would be a plus- as it would allow me to "see what I was getting"- in terms of image detail and shot duration- from the outset.
Thanks to all for commenting-
Isaac
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
