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Topic: GS-1200 repair in USA?

Stephen Kent Jusick
Junior
Posts: 18
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted September 20, 2009 10:42 AM

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Hi All--

Thanks for your answers about GS-1200 Xenon voltage. I'm still working out that problem, and it may take longer than I had hoped, given how real life intervenes.

But I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for reapair and service for a non-Xenon GS-1200 machine, as well as ST-1200s? I know about Leon Norris, and he COULD do the GS, but sometimes he's overloaded. So I'm looking for good, reliable alternatives. Also, Leon has told me he won't work on ST-1200s. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Stephen Kent Jusick

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted September 20, 2009 07:08 PM

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Hi Stephen. I can't be of specific help, but this is what I did....

I remembered who the Elmo distributors were in Australia, they had their logo at the bottom of all the Elmo ads in magazines. I contacted them as they distributed other photographic products too and were still in business. They were actually only 4 blocks from my office. I bought a new belt from them for my ST 1200 and I asked the guy at counter did they still do repairs.

He said they did not have a really good Elmo person there any more as he'd retired. I got his number and found out that not only would he do repairs for me on my Elmos, but that he also bought lots of Elmo parts when he left! (no, he is not keen to sell them, then he can't do repairs).

I am sure Elmo USA would have had top techs in their various offices or those of major distributors, it would be worth a shot.

Good luck.

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Robert Babun
Junior
Posts: 19
From: Perth Australia
Registered: Dec 2009

posted October 02, 2010 11:15 PM

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Hi David

I have sent you a pm.

Regards
Rob

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 03, 2010 10:20 AM

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I believe that Leon was in fact one of Elmo's top techicians in the USA and he bought a lot of their spare parts when they folded.

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Alan Rik
Film God

Posts: 2211
From: New York City, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 03, 2010 01:47 PM

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I don't think that Leon every worked for Elmo. He did buy all of the remaining parts off of Elmo's projector line he told me once.

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 04, 2010 02:52 AM

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Hi Robert; got your email, I'll send the details in a day or two.

David

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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 04, 2010 07:45 AM

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Leon told me last month that he now works on ALL elmos...since he was laid off from his job last year, he's been doing repairs full time...so turnaround should not be an issue. Unless something's changed in the last month, Leon is able to do all Elmos now. He bought a lot of parts.

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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted October 05, 2010 05:20 PM

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I wonder why he doesn't work on the ST1200's? They seem alot more basic than the GS's.

James.

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Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted October 05, 2010 05:52 PM

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He told me he DOES work on ST-1200s. I am sending mine up shortly.

Claus.

--------------------
"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

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Tony Stucchio
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 625
From: New Jersey
Registered: Dec 2005

posted October 05, 2010 06:24 PM

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The ST1200s shutters are driven by a rubber wheel. This is different from other Elmo models -- where a belt drives the shutter. My guess is that he probably has less flexibility to mix and match parts. I have personally found this mechanism nearly impossible to get right after a dis-assembly. I tried once and I ham-fisted myself into bending the shutter accidentally. Also, I believe converting to a 2-bladed shutter is not possible for similar reasons -- I doubt 2 bladed shutters were made for this model.
Looks like he repairs them now but those are best guesses on why in the past he didn't work on them.

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James N. Savage 3
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Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted October 05, 2010 07:49 PM

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Thanks guys.

Tony, that makes sense. I had an ST1200 that I bought used in the 90's. I could never get the speed right on it and eventually sold it "as is". Those rubber wheels are hard to deal with.

James.

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David Kilderry
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Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 06, 2010 02:09 AM

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The key to the ST1200 staying reliable is constant use. If one has been sitting for a few years; look out!

The rubber needs to stay supple.

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Josef Grassmann
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 190
From: Hennef-Sieg, Germany
Registered: Apr 2005

posted October 06, 2010 07:10 AM

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Elmo ST1200 is a very relaiable projector.
If every thing is oiled and greased, adjusted and new belts mounted than 90% of them will work for years, again.
If surface of rubber coated wheels show hard or cracked surface it is recommended to grind them on a round-grinding-maschine. Diameter is reduced by 0.4mm which can´t be dedected by watching film strips.
In some cases cracks in rubber go down to steel core of wheels.
Here we have to replace rubber and grind it to original diameter.

Regards
Josef

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David Kilderry
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Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 06, 2010 06:56 PM

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Josef, I understand grinding all the rubber down speeds the projector up to just over 25 fps.

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Claus Harding
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From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted October 06, 2010 07:09 PM

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Yes, that appears to be about right. My films are a bit fast at both speeds after I had the remains of the rubber ground off.

Claus.

--------------------
"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

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Tony Stucchio
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From: New Jersey
Registered: Dec 2005

posted October 07, 2010 05:59 PM

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I assume you are talking about the rubber around the shutter and not the rubber wheel itself. All models did not have the rubber around the shutter.

I agree -- they are very reliable machines.

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 07, 2010 08:47 PM

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You guys have inspired me: my ST-1200's been idle a couple of months and I just got it out.

The wild thing about mine is the rubber has been removed from the shutter wheel and it runs a little slow. (a little under 23 FPS)

If I could find one of the ones that has sped up to a little over 25, they'd average out perfectly!

Based on the relative sizes of the shutter wheel and the roller being kind of a "gear ratio", it makes more sense if removing the thickness of the rubber makes the machine speed up little.

-As nearly as I can figure it the loss of the rubber is allowing a little bit of slippage. The reason it makes sense for it to have been there in the first place is "traction".

PS: I looked at my rollers: they look fine.

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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David Kilderry
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From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 08, 2010 05:01 AM

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Mine is an ST 1200 M & O, an early model without the rubber around the shutter. It has been very reliable for over 30 years, but is in at the moment for a "tune-up".

I have owned other Elmo st 1200's over the years along with other Elmos and found the brand to be very reliable too. I have not owned a GS 1200........one day.

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 08, 2010 09:08 PM

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I just ran my Blackhawk "The Music Box" (500+ Ft. on a single reel) on my ST-1200HD

It seems to me the voices were unusually deep at the beginning of the reel, but towards the end things sounded more and more like I expect them. (I usually show films like this on my ST-800, which is dead-nuts 24 FPS. I know what they should sound like)

Maybe if I use the machine more regularly it will loosen up and actually run a full 24 FPS all the time.

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Tony Stucchio
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Posts: 625
From: New Jersey
Registered: Dec 2005

posted October 09, 2010 05:11 PM

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Not too unusual for an Elmo ST1200HD -- I sometimes run the projector in forward motion with the lamp off for about 5 minutes on my Elmo before showing a print. Then the speed is correct from the beginning. This is usually only necessary when it hasn't been run in a few weeks, and the weather is on the cold side.

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Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted October 09, 2010 05:58 PM

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Tony,

Yep, since the ST relies on the flywheel to get to corret speed, I have always run mine for a few minutes when starting, prior to putting films on.
It brings it up to speed and (equally importantly) eliminates the wow/flutter of the sound from a "cold start."

Claus.

--------------------
"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

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