8mm Forum: Advice sought for 9.5mm projectors

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Topic: Advice sought for 9.5mm projectors

Charles Sturrock
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Scotland, UK
Registered: Nov 2009

posted November 16, 2009 01:40 PM

Hello,

I have been asked to find a new home for a Specto and a really mint Pathescope Gem owned by my late father.

Interestingly, there is a wee note with the Gem " hang onto this"
written by my Father presumably before his heart op. He died a few years later of unrelated causes.

Now my mother has hung onto it for 5 years and I am not aware of owning any 9.5mm film which we could even test them with.

The projectors are in Glasgow and will be in need of some electrical rewiring and test before they are switched on. I can fit new cord and get them PAT tested at work.

Now the $64 question..........

What should my Mother do with them? Is there a home for old 9.5" film projectors?

If she decides to sell, which is likely, is the bay the best place to go for good prices?

I would like to get them working before hand, even if I just buy a Disney cartoon( silent) and new belts, bulb and wiring to test them.

Any suggestions from enthusiasts on what my Mother should do with them?

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008

posted November 16, 2009 01:54 PM

I think you should do just what your father has suggested and hang on to them. Get some films. The old boxes are interesting. Even if you don't run many films the machines themselves make nice display items.

--------------------
VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Charles Sturrock
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Scotland, UK
Registered: Nov 2009

posted November 16, 2009 02:23 PM

Steven,

I think you should break the news to my Mother that they would be nice display items! ;O)

Tel 0141 942 xxxx

I think the display maybe in the garage. It is a shame that they have lain unused for 50-60 years. Maybe the Scottish film Archive at Dowanhill would be interested?

http://ssa.nls.uk/index.cfm?sid=01.03

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted November 16, 2009 06:37 PM

I think you should break the news that a yank in California could really use the Specto [Big Grin]

......I love Specto's and put on regular 9.5 shows....Really I think you should join the ranks and use them....

--------------------
"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Charles Sturrock
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Scotland, UK
Registered: Nov 2009

posted November 17, 2009 01:01 PM

So is there someone near Glasgow that can help set them up and get me interested in 9.5" projectors.

Do you guys hum along with the old silent movies?

I read you can update the Gem for sound? Is it worth doing?

So what movies are available? Cartoons preferred.

Charles

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 20, 2009 08:57 AM

Charles,
9.5mm is famous for its Max Fleischer Popeye and Betty Boop releases - there are literally dozens of them in silent and sound versions. I have numerous 9.5mm Popeye's and I can tell you that the print quality is superb - much better than anything you will find on 8mm. In fact I think that Popeye never looked as good as he does on 9.5mm.
Also available on 9.5mm are numerous Disney cartoons - Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony 's, Horace Horsecollar , and also the Pat Sullivan Felix the Cat cartoons.
Try and get hold of an old Pathescope 9.5mm film catalogue from about the 1950's to get an idea of the wealth of films that were printed on 9.5mm including early Hitchcock films, German 'Mountain' films, British dramas, Westerns, comedies, and excellent documentary and newsreels.

In my opinion the 'Gem' is not worth converting to sound. It was designed as a silent projector and does not have the more powerful motor and smooth transport required for good sound. If you want to get inro 9.5mm sound your best bet is a Pathe Vox, or, if you can afford it, a converted 16mm Eiki available from Buckingham Films.

[ December 02, 2009, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: Paul Adsett ]

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
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Charles Sturrock
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Scotland, UK
Registered: Nov 2009

posted November 30, 2009 12:59 PM

Thanks Paul,

I will keep my eyes open for some 9.5mm toons. I'll get the projector up and running and take it from there.

There seems to be a good selection of Cartoons available so should be fun.

I have a Specto 9.5mm too so need to see which one will fire up after all this time stored.

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted November 30, 2009 07:24 PM

Charles, as I have both the Gem and the Specto I can help you with any questions you might have in setting them up via email/forum... I would suggest the Specto over the Gem in that the film path of the Gem can really damage your film, where as the Specto is pretty gentle on the films...

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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Charles Sturrock
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Scotland, UK
Registered: Nov 2009

posted October 23, 2011 11:38 AM

I have decided to move the Specto and the Gem on.

Is ebay the best place or are there some buyers on here?

I don't have the time or the film to use them.

I have no idea what they are worth so hence ebay option to find the value.

Any sale tips?

Thanks,

Charles

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John Davis
Master Film Handler

Posts: 286
From: Dunfermline, Fife, UK
Registered: Jun 2008

posted October 23, 2011 05:44 PM

Hi Charles,
a Specto is currently on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPECTO-9-5mm-CINE-PROJECTOR-MODEL-XD-/250913738526?pt=UK_Photography_VintagePhotography_VintagePhotoAccessories&hash=item3a6b9fcf1e at just over £50, keep tabs on this to see how it finishes (there aren't any completed listings at present).
I'm not too familiar with the Gems to know what your model looks like. Like other contributers I hold the Spectos in high regard and think this is a very sellable projector,
John

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted October 24, 2011 05:27 AM

Without doubt the best of the two projectors in every respect is the Specto with a decent film transport mechanism, motor, lens, lamp need I go on. The problem with a Gem is the underrated motor which will eventually go upsy daisy, variable speed and single drive sprocket which on spliced or worn film can be another problemo. Sell the Gem and hang onto the Specto which was pretty much built to last with some new genuine parts still available as well for them.

The Specto 500 9-5 is the ultimate for me with its 500 watt lamp, they also did a similar looking model with a smaller lamp which is not so cute although a great machine and the earlier black model.

Carry on projecting! [Smile]

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