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Author
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Topic: ARE 16mm Bell & Howell Movie Projector Filmsound 535 Good Machines?
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Maurice Leakey
Film God
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted December 31, 2012 09:21 AM
The 535 is described as an economy model, it has manual thread which to some owners is a bit cumbersome.
I have many Bell & Howell projectors, including a 535, and have never had any trouble with their handling of film.
One big problem, however, is that of their notorious worm gear.
Are you thinking of buying a 535?
Do not buy blind, you need to see it and personally check the condition of the worm. If there are signs of cracking do not buy.
In the UK the replacement cost by a qualified engineer would be approximately £150, however, when stripped down, there might possibly be more work that is necessary.
With a new worm and a good service a Bell & Howell will last for many years.
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Maurice
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Maurice Leakey
Film God
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted January 06, 2013 05:48 AM
Laksmi has been sending PMs about his projector problems so I am replying here so that fellow members can share his troubles and also, perhaps, offer advice.
Laksmi recently bought his Bell & Howell 535 from ebay and is experiencing problems:-
1) The motor runs but the mechanism does not
2) The exciter lamp does not light, although the filament is OK
As regard 1, this could be a slipping motor drive belt, and 2, could be poor contact between the lamp and its holder.
The ebay seller used the following phrases. "The machine is very clean and works very nice". "Sound is booming loud and clear". "Everything works".
The seller further states "No returns or exchanges, but item is covered by eBay Buyer Protecton."
As Laksmi paid quite a lot of money for the projector I suggest that he takes advantage of the eBay Buyer Protection and opens immediate proceedings to return the Bell & Howell and get his money back.
The valve (tube) amplifier model 535 was made between 1961 and 1969 and could be 50-years-old, however, there should be no problems if a projector of this age has been well maintained.
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Maurice
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Laksmi Breathwaite
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 771
From: Las Vegas
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted January 06, 2013 12:31 PM
Hey Maurice thanks for the info here is more. I found out that the sound works I just did not wait long enough for the exciter lamp to warm up. I took the back off abnd found out the machine looks like it has two motors one on top of the other. Is this true? And the screw piece you talked about is lubed and good not cracked. The people said they can help me repair the machine because I wanted to try . THe lamp works,the sound, the motor and it looks to have all the gears and belts. the only belt that is working isthe middl;e belt conected to the big motor at the bottom to a top red joint thing that is coming out of a small motor ? Nothing is moving except the black fan belt I just discribed. Here is some things the guy told me to do. Hi Laksmi, so the claw assembly and motor all work,the exciter lamp now works, it's just
the spool arms that are faulty.On the arms are a couple of screws to remove that will give access to the cogs, inside will be a couple of cogs and a spindle with cogs on either end, make sure these are free moving and don't jam, a spray with WD40 or a light oil will suffice.On the take up arm
their is also the fabric belt,this may be very smooth on the inside and is not gripping as well as it should, it can be removed and turned inside out, so that the clean surface is in contact with the take up pulley.I have discovered that if you wash then in just soapy water, dryed off in a warm
oven ( not switched on ) for a few minutes till dry, the belt shrinks ever so slightly and is as
good as new.After this has been done,and the pulleys and cogs sprayed, then there is no reason
on earth why there is no take up.Leave the covers off while you test it, and all should be moving
as designed.Good luck.Hugh. It all is not moving ?????
Maurice I think I will take your advice and send it back to this guy. He said it worked and it is not working and I don't have time for all this. And it has many fan belts or gears. Do you know if elmo makes a good 16mm projector? And do they all have so many fan belts?
[ January 06, 2013, 02:47 PM: Message edited by: Laksmi Breathwaite ]
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" Faster then a speeding bullet, more powerful then a Locomotive "."Look up in the sky it's a bird it's a plane it's SUPERMAN"
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