8mm Forum: Beaulieu 777 mag / optical projector

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Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 25, 2014, 05:20 AM:

I believe Beaulieu once manufactured an optical sound projector with a basic specification as the early 708el for example 700m reel capacity but with the facility to reproduce optical sound as well.

Has anyone ever owned one of these machines or for that matter even ever seen one in existance?

The model number was Beaulieu 777el and can be seen on the Super 8 database if you are interested.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on June 25, 2014, 08:24 AM:

It may be a mistake from the maker of the site, but there is a picture of a Beaulieu 708 EL with a legend stating "OPT et mag" http://projecteurdecine.canalblog.com/ Even with the picture enlargement, it is too small and unclear on my screen to see if there is any evidence of optical facilities on this machine.

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on June 25, 2014, 08:56 AM:

As far as I know, no optical version of the 708 was released to the market. It could have remained as a prototype (remember the Fumeo machine that was advertised by Classic a few years ago?) For the record, there was an optical sound version of the GS1200 (ie no mag sound head).
The Beaulieu in the picture is the standard 708, dual track mag sound only. The film path is completely external on this machine, it doesn't go through any optical sound reading assay.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on June 25, 2014, 10:25 AM:

The Super 8 Database for the 777EL says "Data assembled by Ignacio Benediti"

In the October 2007 issue of "International Movie Making" Ignacio speaks of his Fumeo 9145 which he got direct from the Fumeo factory. It appears that he may have requested modifications.

He also refers in another issue of the magazine to his "high end" collection of projectors including a Beaulieu.

Here again it may be possible that he obtained his Beaulieu direct and had the optical feature added. Who knows?

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 25, 2014, 11:56 AM:

Ah well, that clears that up then! Thanks folks and I guess there is no point in ever trying to look out for one if it never existed.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on June 25, 2014, 12:53 PM:

That's one of the reasons I didn't buy the Beaulieu due to no optical sound. I have quite a few films with optical sound, so bought the ELMO GS1200.

Now if the top projectors could morph into one, WHAT a machine that would be.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 25, 2014, 01:09 PM:

Yeah, I keep my best ever owned ST1200 for my optical prints but I also have a mag opt Bauer 190 which can be used with the long play arms also. It would be better David if the Beaulieu were an optical sound projector as well, but recently I have only been buying magnetic features anyhow due to a lot of the Optical ones now showing a high degree of fading apart from a chosen few which I think I am lucky enough to already own. Other titles such as Memories of Me which still have great colour, I have no desire to ever own again.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on June 25, 2014, 02:03 PM:

If you want a good quality magnetic/optical Super 8 projector you could look out for a Fujicascope SH30.
It's great. I have one. (Not for sale, though!)
http://www.super8data.com/database/projectors_list/projectors_fuji/fujicascope_sh30.htm

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 25, 2014, 04:58 PM:

Yes a friend of mine has three of these machines and even more Bauer t610's! I think for the amount of time I watch Optical prints nowadays, I am happy with what I have Maurice, though I believe the SH30 is a nice machine though.

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