8mm Forum: ELMO ... why? why?

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 10, 2018, 11:42 AM:

I'm really starting to think that my investment in an ELMO GS1200 was a big mistake. Since I got it ...

The rewind doesn't even rewind.
The optical sound keeps on "shorting out". Now, it won't even play.

I'm wondering if it's just a matter of a complete overhaul, a complete oiling a dusting of all the levers and such. I really hope that is the answer, as i have NEVER had this much of an issue with any projector, (truth be told, I'd LOVE to find a EUMIG 938 stereo!) ...

I mean, I know that these are supposed to be the "cadillac?Mustang" ect of the super 8 projector world, but it's just getting to be a pain to me and a frustration ...

I don't just have the cash to mail this 80.00 dollars to ship one way projector (it's freakin heavy!) to somewhere else to have it all overhauled.

It just sits there, ticking me off when I glance at it.

Posted by Leon Norris (Member # 3151) on November 10, 2018, 12:03 PM:

Now Calm Down, OSI you have to under stand that the machine is old! About 40 years old. Things will start to act up! But the two problems you have are to me no big one to fix! Optical sound and no rewind! Its time to check it out! Or sell it as is. It will SELL! Its your move! Leon Norris

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on November 10, 2018, 12:50 PM:

Osi I can feel your pain. Shipping costs for projectors has gotten to be a big part of the equation. My advice is to save up for a good tune-up/overhaul. You may have to sell a few things to help pay for it (been there done that) but you will not be disappointed you did afterwards. The Elmo GS1200 is a very complicated projector compared to many others. That means it requires more care over the long run. But the results when it is running good is what makes it desirable to start with. I do not own one as I have no stereo sound films or optical sound films and they are very pricey. That said, I do not see them getting any cheaper as time goes on. Good luck, I know it can drive you crazy.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 10, 2018, 01:21 PM:

I've always thought, unless you can get spares easily and reasonable priced,(those motors from Elmo only use to cost around £60), or are an electronics engineer, the GS series is just too over engineered for the every day collector. It's a machine i always wanted one after my ST1200HD's, it was the natural upgrade for me until i really looked into them to see how everything works. Once i realised how many motors and switches they had within, that was it for me. I've always thought the HD1200 to be a perfect and well built workhorse, (along with a few other good machines).
I still like the look and performance of the GS, (who wouldn't), but they are simply too much maintenance for the average guy & mega bucks when they require fixing [Wink]

Posted by Bruno Heughebaert (Member # 2756) on November 10, 2018, 01:47 PM:

You are totally right Tom.
I have one Gs that runs perfectly because it was completly rebuild by Ugo with new parts (some improved) but i had to pay the price for that.
The St is the best choice for the every day collector.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 10, 2018, 02:12 PM:

Osi, if you read Consumer Reports the Cadillac has very poor reliability! [Big Grin]

What you want is the reliability of a Honda, namely a good Eumig 800 series machine.
But there is no doubt that a fully functioning GS1200 is a beautiful thing to behold, putting out a very bright and steady picture and good quality sound. It is of course built like a tank, probably the most robust of any super 8 projector, with sound heads that seem to last forever.
I think the Eumig 938 has better sound and is gentler on film, but the 938 has some areas of flimsy plastic components which eventually fail, so its build quality could be better.
At the end of the day you will not find any projector without some issues. As Leon says, all these machines are now 40 years old. As a GS1200 owner I agree that they are complex and fussy machines, but IMO they are worth owning and worth the cost of maintaining, simply because they outperform most other projectors.

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 31) on November 10, 2018, 02:13 PM:

Osi, tried to send you a PM but your mailbox is full.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 11, 2018, 05:08 AM:

I remember some years ago a well known collector/dealer who had a GS-1200 xenon told me that he had bought it new as second-hand ones weren't worth buying as they were clapped out being used professionally in sex cinemas on an almost non-stop basis and then disposed of when faults developed after their constant use.
Perhaps such cinemas didn't always use xenons. [Big Grin]

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on November 11, 2018, 07:10 AM:

I am hooked on the GS 1200 and will continue to use them and repair them as long as it is possible I will not use any other kind of projector for super eight sound

Posted by Matthieu van der Sluis (Member # 6040) on November 11, 2018, 07:26 AM:

Mine still works, but I know the day will come it won't.
I'm glad ' van Eck' is not too far from me.

I have also a ST1200D, but the take up reel cannot handle 1200", so it stops halfway, dropping the rest of the film on the floor. This one still has the round belts I once ordered at 'van Eck'. I recently ordered the origenal square belts at the Real Image store. I still need to replace them, and than it will be amuch better.

I'm looking for a ST1200HD as well,because I think it will be better, because it's the final engineered version of this ST1200 projectorline.
I really like this projector in case design. I even ordered a Beauercase for my Beauer T610 because of theat, but it makes the whole Beauerset very large.

Wish they made an Elmo case for the GS1200 as well like they did for the ST1200, but they did not.

Posted by Kev Morrison (Member # 6338) on November 11, 2018, 08:31 AM:

Osi,

As Alan has pointed out - your mailbox is full.

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on November 11, 2018, 08:55 AM:

Osi

Get your machine serviced and it will be much better. Just get it done.

Posted by David Baker (Member # 3259) on November 11, 2018, 12:08 PM:

Yes !!

One of the JOYS of this Hobby - LEARN TO TOTALLY REPAIR YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT !!

Posted by Leon Norris (Member # 3151) on November 11, 2018, 12:41 PM:

I Totally agree with you David! But there is a lot of collectors who won't touch it! They rather have someone fix it! I won't be Repairing for ever! The GS1200 is no toy! It can be a Headache on some repairs!Once you think you seen it all something new pops up! But I love it !

Leon Norris

Posted by Stuart Finkelstein (Member # 2380) on November 12, 2018, 02:15 AM:

Optical sound adjustment is a tricky task for the GS, but motors and many other parts can be replaced with a mere screwdriver. I work on my own GS projectors, and they run like a top! Of course, I have help from an unnamed forum member, but if you use these pages for tech support when needed, you will find out what you need to know.

You can even download a GS-1200 service manual:

http://www.film-tech.com/warehouse/manuals/GS1200SERVICE.pdf

[ November 12, 2018, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Finkelstein ]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 12, 2018, 10:53 AM:

The modular design of the GS1200 is definitely a virtue. There are many separate mechanical and electronic assemblies which can be fairly easily removed, and repaired or replaced.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 13, 2018, 11:38 AM:

Actually, Paul, I am certainly looking to find a very good condition (or better yet, brand new in box) Eumig S938!!!

I've always wanted one of them.

By the way, i just fixed a prolem on my Eumig 926 stereo!

The little metal "peg" (That's what I'll call it), that is on the actual "lense assembly" broke off, (for others that donot know, it's the lil thing that allows you to turn backwards or forwards the whole lense), an I super glued it on once, but it fell off rather easily in short duration ...

The fix?

I found that with just a very little masking tape, wrapped around once or twice the inner portion of the lense, that i could firmly put it back in there, however, i do have to move it "manually' back and forth, but it's better than no lense assembly at all and there is no "cosmetic" loss to the projectors beauty! [Smile]

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on November 13, 2018, 03:10 PM:

There is a collector on FB with an optical print of 'Adams' - Thought of you - Not sure he
s selling, but the pictures are nice to see - Shorty

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 14, 2018, 12:10 PM:

Could you put up a link to that? I'd have no idea as to where to look Shorty!

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