8mm Forum: GS1200 for £250

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Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on April 18, 2016, 07:44 AM:

What do we think guys? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311592299762

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on April 18, 2016, 07:54 AM:

A very nice project for Bill there Stuart!😊
Lots of spare cash now available to bring it up to the required standard.

Well done Stuart! [Smile]

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on April 18, 2016, 08:38 AM:

Andrew, judging by the images do you have any idea what version of the GS this one is?

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on April 18, 2016, 09:23 AM:

Someone like Ugo Grassi or Paul Browning here is better equipped to tell you this Stuart rather than myself. These are not a projector I've ever owned.

All I know is the lower loop on the MK 3 versions is the opposite orientation (reverse loop) to the early ones and there are subtle changes to the cosmetic appearance of the knobs etc. Lines instead of dots or something like, I believe.
There are also differences in some of the electrics /electronics I believe also.
Also once you get it in your hands, the serial number will give its age away straight away.

Alessandro sold a lovely MK3 version recently. He posted photographs in HD over on the other place if you'd like to compare its film path to that of your own newly acquired one here Stuart.

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on April 18, 2016, 11:39 AM:

Its an early one, with a very badly broken case, and what looks like the frame a bit bent too, stay clear unless your brave and you have the time to sort it, who knows what you will find, probably good for spares though.

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on April 18, 2016, 12:18 PM:

Thanks Paul, bit of a gamble then. I'll report back when I've picked it up at the end of the week.

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on April 18, 2016, 12:43 PM:

Stuart, I think you have paid a high price for it, but we are here as a forum to help you out mate, if we can. There are some really helpful guys on here on this particular Elmo as you know and some experts too. You will need to check that front lower guide that wares badly and damages your films, but this can be sorted out with modified or remade parts form van eck. The casing is bit tricky because of how it is made, its aluminium blown casting, which is light weight but brittle when it brakes.
It has the better soft cover with it, and the f1.0 lens all plus's, and the sound heads can be got too so there are good points. I will help you Stuart if I can and I'm sure everyone on here will share my view.

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on April 18, 2016, 12:58 PM:

Guess I should've offered less but as they were originally asking £500 I thought I'd go in half price and they accepted right away.

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on April 18, 2016, 01:14 PM:

Well at £250.00 you may have done ok Stuart, but at £500 it would have been too much for an unknown like this one. The f1.0 lens still fetch good money so if that's all ok, then the rest of it is a bonus. Just have to wait now to see what else shows up after what ever damaged the back case, pure speculation Stuart at this point in time.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on April 18, 2016, 03:46 PM:

Thats not a bad price if you can get it working for a decent amount.
In fact if you can get it working for a minimal amount that will be money well spent!
I've had a few with cracks on them that were stellar performers once they were repaired. We will cross our fingers for you! [Smile]

BTW-how did you know the unit has the 1.0 lens? Did he state it? If so.. than you got the machine for almost what the lens sells for which is a great deal no matter how you look at it.

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on April 18, 2016, 04:31 PM:

Not sure about the lens, Paul noted it above?

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on April 18, 2016, 05:24 PM:

Ok Stuart, just double checked that it has the f1.1 Elmo lens in it and not the f1.0 . The profiles are similar, sorry about that. Anyway its still a decent lens and much better than the f1.3 lens.

Posted by Stuart Reid (Member # 1460) on April 19, 2016, 04:10 AM:

Thanks Paul, good to know what I'm dealing with.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on April 19, 2016, 03:06 PM:

That damage to the casing looks alarming, but if that turned out to be the main problem, it could turn out to be a bargain, as otherwise it looks OK. If it (e.g.) once fell onto the floor and landed on that corner, it might possibly have avoided damage to more delicate parts. With luck, someone with 'spares only' GS might never envisage needing the back cover and might sell you this for a reasonable price.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on April 19, 2016, 04:04 PM:

I'm sure Ugo would make a good restoration, but at what cost! From a personal point of view barge poles comes to mind. Still - good luck.

Posted by Steven J Kirk (Member # 1135) on April 19, 2016, 09:22 PM:

£250 for it as a spares machine is a good deal. I have paid £350 for one to use for parts. If you have the fast lens then it makes it a bargain!

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on April 20, 2016, 08:19 AM:

In view of the 'miracles' that Bill Parsons has achieved with GSs that others would have written off, I expect he has seen worse! At least it's probably free of the highly dubious 'customising' that some projectors have suffered.

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