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Author Topic: While we are on the subject of Beaulieu
Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 12, 2015 07:05 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
While we are on the subject of the Beaulieu 708el, I thought it best to post another snippet that cost me dearly when I very first
acquired my machine.

Please refer to items 7,8,9 & 10 from the drawing below for what I am about to advise.

The upper sprocket lower plastic guide on these machines (item 7) has a very powerful set of springs (items 9 & 10) controlling the guide to its usual most upward position.

Item 8 is an adjustable jacking screw for this guide. It's purpose is to set the guide 2 film thicknesses away from the lower half of the upper sprocket.

If this screw is left out or simply missing or even maladjusted this machine WILL scratch all of your precious film collection I guarantee. I know this from some very painful experiences from when I first acquired my machine.

The fault on my machine was not down to any of the above factors and was therefore more difficult to spot.

The fault on my machine was down to the fact that the tapped hole in the plastic lower guide (item 7) was excessively worn due to the guide being slapped back in place after cleaning it inbetween screenings. (not by me I hasten to add!)

Then what was happening (which incidentally took me longer than I would have liked to spot), was the screw was changing position each time I was cleaning the guide due to the worn thread in the plastic guide.

Solution:
To ensure this never ever happens to your machine simply place an M2 nut onto the end of the M2 screw (item8) with the screw wound all the way into the guide so maximum screw thread protrudes through the guide.
Once you have done this the machine will NEVER scratch film from this region again so long as you routinely clean the guide (Obviously).

Please see photographs and drawing below:

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 12, 2015 04:34 PM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Andrew, do yourself a favor and purchase a Fumeo, you'll never look back trust me.

Very poorly made machines just ask MR GS himself [Wink]

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 12, 2015 06:02 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Yes I know all about Kevin's view of these. They are not everyone's cup of tea I know Robert. After all no pulse sync, only 150w lamp, no optical sound etc etc.

Kevin bought a lemon seemingly. He started having issues almost immediately with the capstan drive mechanism.

If you have a good set of engineering skills and appreciate fine well crafted goods from quality materials, they are the perfect solution for their respective owners.

If you don't believe me, just ask Alan Rik, Rob Young or Jon Addams to name but three

A fumeo is noisier,older design orientated and has no Stereo model available as standard but without doubt, is still a very desirable machine.Equally, there is only one rare model that records and even then, only in mono of course.

It is also nowhere near as aesthetically pleasing as these fine specimens either.

I have had mine around 15 months now. My seller was an intermediate, he had a totally unbiased opinion when handing it over. In my opinion, the seller is one of THE most respected people left in the cine world and ran a Fumeo for 20years in his business but his words were, when handing it over to me
"it's the Rolls Royce of Super 8mm projectors".

15 months in after quite a few teething problems, I have no reason to disbelieve him Robert.

The Beaulieu 708el CD Stereo is simply a beautiful machine in use when treated in the manner it deserves. It is also THE only Super 8mm model that can handle 2200ft Stereo full features and show them in one run.

Everyone on here and in life in general, have their opinions, I am just glad that over the years I have learned the hard way of what to trust in life and indeed...what not.

In this machine, it most certainly gains my full trust!

I have a quote from "Jungle Book" running alongside me on here, it came by one or two things I found ironic on here at the time,maybe after tomorrow, based on Roberts post, I should change it to another from the film.."Trust In Me" , for the time being, the one I already have, is most apt I feel [Big Grin]

[ March 13, 2015, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 03:48 AM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Well everyone has a favourite machine but the Fumeo is the only company that made both Super 8, 16mm & 35mm machines for professional use.

I have both GS, Beaulieu but a Fumeo Xenon is a class in its own.

One thing that puts me off with Beaulieu are the plastic guides

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 05:36 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Plastic guides are fine on these not like GS.
Only used.in certain places.. Precision machined steel where.matters.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 09:09 AM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I also don't like the plastic back cover. Hopefully you've up graded the crude plastic spindles they use that can easily break whilst changing a reel.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 09:23 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
They are all just fine thanks Robert.

I have no idea how you could possibly snap off a reel hub just from fitting a Beaulieu reel????

Also i have spoke on here before about the BENEFITS of the rear cover being made from what it is as opposed to metal.

[ March 13, 2015, 05:31 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 09:37 AM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
As you know plastic becomes brittle over time with general wear and tear. Maybe something to look at for the future.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 11:29 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Robert i have loads of spare parts for my machine and we now have the benefit of Edwin offering us virtually any spare part we could ever need nowadays when made of plastic.

These machines have never been so well supported in the last 20 years as they are today all thanks to the efforts and requests of people who love these machines on here.

[ March 13, 2015, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted March 13, 2015 11:46 AM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
One thing about the GS1200, the mechanical parts are really robust. In fact, now I think about it, I have never had a mchanical part fail on either of my GS's, except for that little rewind gear. All the knobs that control the amplifier are machined from Aluminum, the plastic guides are really thick high quality material, the rollers are all machined metal, and the motors and solenoids look like they were designed for really heavy duty applications. No, the weak point of the GS is definately the elctronics that controls all this stuff.

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 12:10 PM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Paul, my personal opinion on the GS the design and engineering is made to complicated. For instance why do you need four motors? Along with the complicated electronics.

Don't get me wrong it's a wonderful beautiful machine (I have two), but like a classic car it sometimes can get temperamental to the point of effecting its running ability.

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted March 13, 2015 12:21 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I think we can all agree with that Robert. Whenever I study the design of the GS it is to me like the designer broke all the functions of the machine down into separate self contained sub systems and then designed an electronic system to control them all. Kind of like a 'brute force' design approach, instead of a clever and therefore simpler and more reliable one.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Paul Browning
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1006
From: West Midlands United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2011


 - posted March 13, 2015 02:07 PM      Profile for Paul Browning   Email Paul Browning   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Its still the best looking and sounding super 8 projector for the money ever made, the fumeo cannot touch it sonically or build quality, the dreadful board in the fumeo 9119, like a rats nest of wires, it looks like an old valve radio from the fifties. its very much like there cars of the 70's, you got a lot for your money. I remember the rhetoric even then, all these gimmicks, radio cassette, electric windows, cigarette lighters etc, and people bought them by the millions. You don't get a omelette without cracking a few eggs.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 03:19 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
The GS, without any shadow of doubt is the most sophisticated super 8mm Projector ever made.

Whether the end result all round, is the best, is debatable as many on here discuss.

Nevertheless, for those with the knowledge, expertise to fit one or two modifications to the path and the wherewithal to update components that have now been superseded by better ones.. then these are a very fine machine indeed.

My selection process with the projectors I now own and value is, in this day and age, purely based on having a realistic ability to keep any of them running for the next twenty or so years.

If the year today was 1980 or even 1990,I would love to own one of these.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Paul Browning
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1006
From: West Midlands United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2011


 - posted March 13, 2015 03:35 PM      Profile for Paul Browning   Email Paul Browning   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
They're quirky machines, whatever you choose, that's why we love em !!!!.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 03:41 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
True Paul or else we would surely all be Sat in front of one of those boring rectangular white, black or silver silent boxes that place ultra bright, ultra sharp vivid beautiful digital images on our big screens. Either that or one of those twice as bright Bauer's! [Big Grin] [Wink]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 04:15 PM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Or twice as bright Fumeos the choice of professionals! [Big Grin]

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 04:24 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
How can I or any collector of Super 8mm film be described as a professional? It's an amateur film gauge for lovers of home movies.
This is a forum page for the Super 8mm gauge collectors to have discussions about everything to do with a non professional hobby.
Therefore in all honesty I just cannot see the relevance of the last post unless the Fumeo Super 8 machines are somehow used professionally in commercial cinemas.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 04:41 PM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
You are actually coming across very negative in your assumption?

I can only assume you don't know much about Fumeo Super 8 machines or the companies history to comment.

Or if they are used in commercial cinemas which i know they are. I thought this forum was all about sharing your experiences and expertise regardless of it being professional or amateur and sharing your knowledge regardless of what your views are to fellow collectors.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 04:46 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Wow, this is becoming a Labour of love...it's a Super 8mm forum.
Of course Super 8mm was never intended as a professional gauge Fumeo or otherwise.

If you wish to discuss professional gauge film and equipment there are other forums in place and a section on here to do so.

I cannot explain myself any clearer than that Robert.
Nothing negative...
Just a place for everything and everything has its place...simple as that.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 05:52 PM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Glad you’re finding this a labour of love Andrew and yes this is a 8mm forum which can be used by anybody, professional or non professional.

Guess you don’t know that much about Super 8, just google it and you’ll find that these days it’s classed as a professional gauge.

Just a place for everything and everyone thing to be put in their place.

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted March 13, 2015 06:00 PM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
There is no doubt that the Beaulieu machines are among the best ever made, if not the best.

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Dominique

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 13, 2015 06:24 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Goodnight Robert, sleep well tonight now then knowing you have well and truly put me in my place, wherever that might be??

Night night and God Bless all.

Back tomorrow for you amateurs and professionals alike, with yet another simply sinterlating episode of the Bob on Bobby & Handy Andy show!... giving you yet more advice, top tips on what to own and what not, plus exclusive news of what's coming next at your local multiplex all on Super 8 at a blistering 5·6k Ansi!! Now what did I do with that Prozac?

I bet y'all can't wait, I know I can!!

Oh wouldn't you just know it now Dominique has decided he won't be swapping his Beaulieu either. What a deluded bunch we all are! [Big Grin]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Robert Tucker
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Essex, UK
Registered: May 2005


 - posted March 13, 2015 06:54 PM      Profile for Robert Tucker     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
In all the many years i have been on this forum, it's now certainly changed for the worst and become the WoodCock forum show !?!

If you ask me it's all getting very tiresem and boring!

Just ask the people who don't bother posting on this forum anymore because of it.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted March 14, 2015 12:55 AM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
The once ailing member numbers on here that now grow steadily by the week, suggest otherwise.
Perhaps it's just a change in readers and posters interests and attitudes that change as the decades roll by.

Now I feel I am back at my infants school where everyone used to giggle at the word Cock when the register was being taken.
Ahhh small things eh..

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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