8mm Forum: New sound heads: Mission Impossible

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Posted by Marc Marti (Member # 404) on January 15, 2018, 05:58 PM:

As I'm looking for a new projector dedicated exclusively for stereo recording, I've found that it's nearly impossible to find new sound heads for most projectors, with the exception of Beaulieu ones.

This is quite dramatic, because our projectors will be useless for decent sound reproduction in a short time. A true sword of Damocles over them.

What do you think about this problem? Do you think there will be a solution for it in the future?

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 16, 2018, 03:28 PM:

I could be wrong here but i think new sound heads are still available for the Bauer T610 but there not cheap.
I myself have yet to have a projector where the heads have worn out but we never record,
unless i am wrong, if a projector is constantly used for recording then this will eventually take it out of the heads. Please correct me if i am wrong
[Wink]

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on January 16, 2018, 03:43 PM:

Might be worth buying a couple to pop on the shelf.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/CK-841- Uher-Wiedergabekopf-Super-8-Projektor-Tonkopf-Ersatzteil-W63/122855019746?hash=item1c9abad4e2:g:eaoAAOSwDEtaLkOr

https://www.ebay.de/itm/CK-841-R-Uher-Aufnahme-Wiedergabekopf-Super-8-Projektor-Tonkopf-W62/122855015267?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49132%26meid%3Da31 301f6c70c40aeab5b1a71125f5e7a%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D122855019746&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

Best Mark.

Posted by Marc Marti (Member # 404) on January 16, 2018, 05:59 PM:

Tom, they use to say that recording wear out the sound heads, but it's because of the constant "play-stop-rewind-stop-play..." operations associated with old recording techniques. Both with playing or recording, the second channel wears out faster.

Mark, do you know for what projectors are the sound heads on your links?

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on January 16, 2018, 06:35 PM:

I would guess Bauers ? maybe, they seem to have a few.

If I was staying with 8mm I would buy 2 at least just to have them at that price.

Best Mark.

Posted by Marc Marti (Member # 404) on January 16, 2018, 07:13 PM:

I believe that Bauer sound heads were the same as Beaulieu projectors, which are much more expensive, but perhaps I'm wrong.

And now that we're at it, does someone know where to find new sound head replacements for the Braun Visacustic 2000?

https://imgur.com/a/L6FbR

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on January 16, 2018, 07:32 PM:

Magnetic sound heads cannot be that complicated. I wish Edwin Van Eck would re-engineer the Eumig 800 and 900 heads.

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on January 17, 2018, 08:58 AM:

Recording does not wear the heads more than playback; wear is just due to stripe contact (magnetic stripe being abrasive). The heads linked to this thread are not for the Bauers (Woelke manufactured them); I guess these are for Noris projectors. Bauers and Beaulieu: same heads. Braun: impossible to find (to the best of my knowledge)... But the do look like Eumig Series 900 heads at least in part; maybe Eumig supplied them to Braun who then modified them and housed them in their own head mount.

BTW Eumig heads were made in-house, the machine was sold off to Silma/Bauer and was moved to Italy; evidence of this is projector model 931 (made by SIlma but badged as Eumig) do have Eumig's heads. Probably the Bauer company were seeking a way to build their own heads instead of buying them from Woelke. What happened to the machine to build them is a mistery. Some people refer it was scraped other say it was sold by the kilo to salvagers; fact is traces were lost by the mid-80's.... If only the people at the Eumig Museum still had the blueprints for these heads, perhaps someone might still be able to manufacture them. Anybody in Austria might pay a visit the them? I know they still have the official documents with dozens and dozens of patents.... And they are very nice people.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on January 17, 2018, 10:40 AM:

A general lack of new magnetic soundheads for 8mm projectors.

One other reason I am sticking to 16mm Optical sound.
Plenty spare exciter lamps still around for these. [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 17, 2018, 11:18 AM:

39 years in and so far, (as we use the projectors for viewing only & not recording), we have never worn out a sound head and the volume of my Elmos on Both tracks is 100% perfect, And yes i use a projector most nights of the week but these days the 8mm is having a well earned rest while we work our way through the 16mm. And hopefully more on the way.

[ January 17, 2018, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Tom Photiou ]

Posted by David Roberts (Member # 197) on January 17, 2018, 12:57 PM:

I use 3 studioline series Bauers,and so far,no signs of soundhead issues. if I did have any such problems,would probably look to replace the entire machine,rather than trying to fit new heads,even if available.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 17, 2018, 03:23 PM:

I think i would probably do the same David, then keep the old machine as spares, assuming it was replaced with the same model [Wink]

Posted by Marc Marti (Member # 404) on January 17, 2018, 04:49 PM:

Maurizio, thanks a lot for the clarification. Sad to hear that about the Visacustic sound heads. It's my favourite projector [Frown]

David and Tom, I don't find practical to replace a good working projector when the sound heads go bad. Projectors are not infinite and if we could exchange the heads it would be a much better solution.

And yes, the Elmo's heads are build to last. But it won't be forever anyway!

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on January 17, 2018, 05:41 PM:

Right Marc: the sound heads on those Elmo machines seem to have been made to last forever; they are definitely in a different league. I heard of many people claiming they have never had to replace them. As for me I have used the GS 1200 since 2005 and never had any issues with the heads. Which - BTW - ara made of a peculiar magnetic alloy called Sendust, based on silicon and other stuff whose magnetic properties exceed permalloys's (the other alloy favoured by the industry) as well as its duration. Same goes for Sankyo's heads (and clones thereof) which I am not sure what type of alloy are made of. Indeed I once had to replace heads on my Stereo 800 but nonethelss I have never had to replace them again ever since. Second best, I would say....

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on January 18, 2018, 01:15 AM:

Getting a spare sound head for the Fumeo 9119 machine is also a lost cause, I wonder if any of those heads on the de. ebay site would be any good, at that price might be worth a try....

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 18, 2018, 01:53 AM:

You can order new heads for the 9119 in Mono Or Stereo through Photovox in Italy.

email is:

info (at) photovoxtech.it

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on January 18, 2018, 03:48 AM:

How old is the info Alan, I tried one two places never even got a reply...
just checked my emails from 2017 sent one to this company, no reply.....

[ January 18, 2018, 06:59 AM: Message edited by: Paul Browning ]

Posted by Marc Marti (Member # 404) on January 18, 2018, 08:36 AM:

Yes, Maurizio. Perhaps the time has come to buy an Elmo GS-1200. Do you know if Ugo still sell his refurbished models? It would be the best solution in the long term, I think.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 18, 2018, 09:05 AM:

Hi Paul,
I received this reply on Sept. 22nd of last year.

"Thank you very much for your kind request.
We can produce magnetic heads for SUPER 8 projectors.
See attached the data sheet for code 4683.
If this head suits you I will proceed with an offer, including lead time and
freight charges to USA.
Kind Regards"

You can also Phone them as they have replied in english.

PHOTOVOX TECHNOLOGY SRL
Via Caluso 35
10035 Mazzé (TO)

TEL: +39 011 9835322

As far as a "new" Ugo GS1200 I doubt that will happen. Ugo has left this hobby from what he told me thus no new posts. He now has a new "hobby"-Alfa Romeo Montreal! He is probably rebuilding one as we speak. Shame too since he was so knowledgable about the GS1200. He took the GS down to the frame and to the last screw and then rebuilt it from the ground up. Probably the last machine ever sold that was like new except for the GS Xenon rebuild that Desmond here did as well.
And I have heard from Leon Norris that the heads of the GS1200 almost never wear out. Its everything else you have to worry about! [Smile]

Posted by Marc Marti (Member # 404) on January 18, 2018, 10:04 AM:

Thanks, Alan. That's too bad! Ugo is an absolute master of the GS-1200. Also, I learned from him how to make perfect splices in Super-8 and I use his technique since then.

BTW, that message from Photovox sounds like "we can build sound heads for any projector". Well, dreaming is free [Smile]

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 18, 2018, 10:17 AM:

Yes right? If only! But I specifically asked for Fumeo projectors so...
Now if only Kodak would create a new Super 8 Projector to go with their new camera....

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on January 18, 2018, 10:45 AM:

I just don't get it Alan. My email was dated the 19th sept 2017 just a few days before you, and I got no response, sorry to labour the point but who did you send the email to, someone specific, or general enquires ?, thanks Alan.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on January 18, 2018, 11:16 AM:

Hi Paul,
PM sent.

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