8mm Forum: "Finding a take-up reel" or "Darn Ebay!"

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Topic: "Finding a take-up reel" or "Darn Ebay!"

Charles Bramlett
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Posts: 25
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Registered: Aug 2008

posted August 20, 2008 05:05 PM

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Hello, all!

This is my first posting on the forum, so if I do something wrong... sorry!

Anyway, my first film projector arrived in the mail today! Yay! Even better... it seems to work! It was purchased off of Ebay as I'm trying to do this on a budget. Unfortunately, in my excitement I failed to notice that the take-up reel was not shown in the pictures until after I had placed my bid. Sure enough, I opened up my projector today and there is no take-up reel in sight.

So... does anyone know how to find a new take-up reel for a Bell & Howell 357b? I'm not even certain what kind I need.

Thanks!

[ August 20, 2008, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: Charles Bramlett ]

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted August 20, 2008 08:38 PM

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Welcome to the forum!

Make certain of the model, as some projectors can take 400ft or 600ft take up reels, and you want to have the "right reel for the right job",

so lets keep it "reel"

Sorry guys, I couldn't resist! [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Maurice Leakey
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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted August 21, 2008 05:52 AM

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Q. When is a reel not a reel?

A. When it is a spool.

Charles, you need a super 8 spool with a maximum capacity of 400'. If you can see and handle one it will have a diameter of about 7 inches.

--------------------
Maurice

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Joe Caruso
Film God

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From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 21, 2008 05:54 AM

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Welcome Charles, I might have a pick-up reel (400') to send - My specialty is shorts, as you can plainly take note of in the nickname - Stay in touch, Shorty

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
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posted August 21, 2008 03:49 PM

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Not bad Maurice!

I love reels so much some people call a ...

Dare I say it?

SPIN DOCTOR!!!

Let's hear it for the master of the "groaners"!!

[Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

[Razz]

[Big Grin]

[Razz]

[Big Grin]

[Razz]

[Big Grin]

[Razz]

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Charles Bramlett
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Registered: Aug 2008

posted August 21, 2008 04:08 PM

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Joe (Shorty), that would be great. How much would you want for it?

Maurice, are the super 8 spools interchangeable or are they custom designed for each make/model? I was afraid that I would need to track down a specific reel/spool/whatever to fit my B&H357b.

Oh, and thanks for the welcome, Osi... I'm reel-y excited to be here! [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

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Osi Osgood
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From: Mountian Home, ID.
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posted August 21, 2008 08:20 PM

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My son, my pupil!

Already getting into the swing of this thing!

The master is pleased!

We really are a jolly bunch!

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted August 22, 2008 02:44 AM

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Charles

Yes. Any Super 8 spool will fit any Super 8 projector.

However, having said that, beware that a lot of projectors only accept spools with a nominal capacity of up to 600'. Some cheap projectors will only take 400' spools.

There are spools available in larger sizes but will only fit on models that have longer spool arms.

--------------------
Maurice

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

posted August 22, 2008 07:51 AM

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There are also reels (spools) designed specifically to be used as takeup reels (spools) on autothread projectors. They have flexible "fingers" that intrude slightly inside the film area to grab the leader and hold it while it wraps around and then pulls to the center (centre).

(-so much for multiculturalism!)

A standard reel won't grab the film and you will be stuck to stop, slot the leader and start up. This isn't too great because the leader will bend a little and not want to pass through the machine smoothly the next time around, so every time you project a film you'll need to trim the leader.

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

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Bill Brandenstein
Phenomenal Film Handler

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From: California
Registered: Aug 2007

posted August 22, 2008 04:15 PM

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Wow, that's scary -- that's the projector I grew up with and scratched all my films with. Beware, Charles. Keep the gate clean, make sure the springs don't put too much pressure on the film, and test carefully with something that isn't irreplacable. Mine is so worn that it can no longer hold a steady picture due to wear on the oblong wheel that controls the claw motion.

I still have the original B&H 400' takeup, which is a durable metal reel that uses teeth on the hub to complete the autothreading feature. I'd give you mine, but nostalgia prevents me! But by now you know any 400' reel will do.

If you raise the arm to "float" above the click position, you can get a 600' (8-inch) reel to work. The supply reel can definitly be 600', though this projector isn't spec'd for it.

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Charles Bramlett
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Registered: Aug 2008

posted August 22, 2008 07:37 PM

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Gee, Bill... thanks for the burst of sunshine. Hehe, jk. [Wink]

[Wink]

I wasn't under any illusion that this would be a high-end machine. I just needed something cheap to get me started while I squirrel away enough nickels to buy something nicer. I'm not planning on running anything irreplaceable or expensive through it.

Useful advice, all.

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Osi Osgood
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From: Mountian Home, ID.
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posted August 23, 2008 01:52 PM

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One thing you can do to help your projector run more smoothly, is use some furniture polish (no joke), put it on some form of cloth, and polish the whole film path through the projector.

Even on lower quality projectors, it can help them not scrtch as badly or at all. [Smile]

[Smile]

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Charles Bramlett
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Registered: Aug 2008

posted August 23, 2008 02:03 PM

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^ That's excellent advice, thank you. I'll do that today. Should I also lubricate the spindles (or any other parts)? If so, what type of lubrication should be used?

Oh, and I found a reel. So, here's hoping that this one one will do what I need it to do.

[ August 23, 2008, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Charles Bramlett ]

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Maurice Leakey
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posted August 23, 2008 03:09 PM

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Your spool looks perfect, and it's an auto threader.

--------------------
Maurice

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Bill Brandenstein
Phenomenal Film Handler

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From: California
Registered: Aug 2007

posted August 24, 2008 04:08 PM

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Happy to spread that sunshine, Charles! [Wink]

[Wink]

You don't need to lube anything else unless you're inclined to start fussing inside with cleaning and re-lubing. The main thing is to keep anyting that touches the film clean and slick!

And I agree with Maurice, of course -- in fact, that reel is about as close to the B&H original as you're going to ever find, very cool.

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Osi Osgood
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From: Mountian Home, ID.
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posted August 24, 2008 08:29 PM

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I disagree Bill, (respectfully), any film projector can't help but operate better by a lubrication of it's film path. The wheels and such shouldn't need such, unless they somehow became nicked over time and are in a section of the projector where the film tugged roughly upon the wheels.

The type of projector varies in quality (as any number of other forum members can verify) and in scratching tendecies, (like the recent GAF projector discussions), but I feel that anything that will allow the film to go through smoothly, whether it's using a film cleaner that has a wax base to coat the film or coating the film path of the projector yourself, in the long run, you will thank yourself as you see that your precious film prints last longer with less wear.

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Charles Bramlett
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Registered: Aug 2008

posted August 24, 2008 10:10 PM

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What is the recommended method for cleaning the film... and how frequently?

Wow, I have a lot to learn.

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