8mm Forum: I (Literally) Found a Projector

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Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on November 14, 2009, 10:41 PM:

It is a brand I have never heard of: Fodeco.

I was at a friend's apartment building, down in the storage area, when I spotted this incredibly dirty little carrying case sitting in a corner next to an old mousetrap. I opened the lid, and what do you know...yet another projector [Big Grin]

It was abandoned, so I of course took it home (cue my wife rolling her eyes again [Roll Eyes]

)

After a good cleaning (and extricating the metal belt which someone had managed to drive into the machine itself) I plugged in and it roared to life with no problems; the bulb lit up fine too.
Fodeco was made in NJ, as the sign says:

I Googled it, and found an image suggesting the machine is from 1946. Otherwise, I didn't find any information.
It is definitely a cheap projector. The white 'decoration' around the bottom is a design element, not a missing strip or anything like that. You can just picture them peeling off the masking tape after painting it.

It has the cheapest loop rollers I have ever seen. As the image implies, they go 'Boinng' when you press on them [Eek!]

Still, I like the look and the color of the unit. The lens is a 1-inch, 1.6 and the lamp is a 750W old-style 'chimneystack' bulb.

If anyone has any history on this brand, I'd love to hear about it. Meanwhile I have to find a roll of sacrificial Reg-8 to feed the little beastie; I have to see it run at least once.

Claus.

Posted by Wayne Tuell (Member # 1689) on November 14, 2009, 11:06 PM:

That is a clean looking machine for being left alone all these years. I can donate some reg. 8mm film for that machine. Drop me a note with your address.

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on November 15, 2009, 11:54 AM:

Wayne,

Thanks, I have sent you an e-mail.

Claus.

Posted by Wayne Tuell (Member # 1689) on November 16, 2009, 08:07 PM:

Sacrificial film is in the mail. Let's just hope that the projector gods spare the celluloid and the projector works as great as it looks. [Wink]

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on November 17, 2009, 02:13 PM:

Clause-

Great find!

And let me know if you need some regular 8 film to test. I work in D.C. five days a week, and live only minutes outside of the district.

Enjoy!

James.

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on November 17, 2009, 09:46 PM:

James,

Thanks so much, but I have a roll coming from Wayne.
Let's see how it runs... [Smile]

Claus.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on January 10, 2013, 05:28 PM:

Hi Claus. I have had two of these for awhile. One is maroon and the other is dark blue. Finally got the blue one cleaned up and I tried it out. It works great. Did yours work?

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on January 10, 2013, 07:06 PM:

It looks a well made little machine, I somehow don't think it'll
damage your film,it looks very well finished, well done Claus.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on January 10, 2013, 07:18 PM:

Claus

What an interesting find. Looks like a great little machine. By the way, I sent the tape to you yesterday.

PatD

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on January 10, 2013, 08:09 PM:

I wonder if anyone checked the date of your original post, Claus [Eek!]

Actually, it is not well made. It is almost made from tin. Mine works well though, with just the claw and take-up moving the film...no sprockets. Saw an ad for it where it was priced at $89.00

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on January 10, 2013, 08:50 PM:

Nice to see "ye olde post" dug up from years ago [Big Grin]

The Fodeco should still be in perfectly good shape; it's sitting in storage with the rest of my machines after my move. It most certainly was a "budget" affair, what with the cheap tin and rollers and so forth, but hey, someone probably got some good times out of it running their vacation films on it.

Claus.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on January 10, 2013, 09:03 PM:

You seem to have the "upgrade" paint on yours. I like the silver in the roller/ lens area. Mine don't have that.

Posted by Richard Bock (Member # 1926) on January 10, 2013, 09:35 PM:

Great looking projector and you cleaned it up real good Barry. That projector was meant for you. I mean who ever FINDS a projector much less a dime!

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on January 11, 2013, 05:40 AM:

I don't know about "tin", but the main body looks to be from pressed steel, much like the french Heurtier projectors.Nice to
see rollers instead of plastic tracks.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on January 13, 2013, 04:10 PM:

You are correct, Hugh. It is the front and back cover that is kinda tinny. The frame is adjusted by movement of the claw. The motor brushes don't come out for replacement. Pretty basic machine.

Posted by Jake Mayes (Member # 3292) on January 16, 2013, 11:05 AM:

That looks nice, great find! If only the claw and the take-up move the film without a sprocket drive, doesn't that cause damage over repeated plays? A problem than plagued 9.5 mm users on quite a few projectors, mind you their perforations were down the middle of the frame not the side... Mind you that one is simple and clean, you will probably get fine results from that! Can you post a pic of the lamp? Is it like the one in the older B&H models?

Jacob [Smile]

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