8mm Forum: Favourite projectors

This is topic Favourite projectors in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on February 28, 2009, 02:56 AM:

In your experience, boys and girls, what are your favourite machines and why?

-Mike

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on February 28, 2009, 03:57 AM:

I have been living a love story for several weeks now with an Elmo XP550 xenon machine. Light output is incredible, manual thread, three sprocket wheels keeping a rock-steady image and a wow-less sound, 25w hifi amplifier with both line out and speaker socket (no internal speaker though), fully compatible with the entire Elmo lens range which I had from my 16CL (the Elmoscope II needs to be attached further away from the primer but it's fine), very quiet synchronous motorwhen running, very kind to films.

Posted by Lars Pettersson (Member # 762) on February 28, 2009, 10:31 AM:

I have an Eiki NT2, a Bauer P8 and a Bauer P6 doubleband, and am very fond of them all. In fact, they all perform beautifully at what they´re best at. The Eiki runs forever and ever, very dependable, the P8 is very quiet and is gentle on film, best bet if the projector has to be in the same room as the audience, and the P6, although it weighs a ton and therefore isn´t used that often, of course can run separate magnetic sound -theoretically probably also in stereo (I´ve never tried but it should work as per the Elmo ST 1200) and runs so evenly at 25 fps that I can use it to scan material to video (no flicker).

Would love to get my hands on a Xenon machine though. Jean-Marc could you post a picture of your latest love? [Smile]

Cheers
Lars

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on February 28, 2009, 08:03 PM:

I have a mid 50's Bell & Howell 385 that I've owned for about 15 years. I have only replaced the bulbs and the 'spring' belts on the arms.

I just happened to drop in my church thru the week and some gals where cleaning out the supply closet and the projector was going to the garbage!

Luckly, they were glad I took it and so was I. It was in beautiful condition and its been purring like a kitten ever since.

Bill

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on February 28, 2009, 10:46 PM:

My pride and joy is my Bell And Howell 631, It came from my old school, I remember it running when I was young, it was going to be thrown out so I liberated it from the bin! it also has it's 12" speaker box and also it's instruction book and a reel of film showing you how to thread it up....the only thing is you need to know how to thread it up in order to watch the film!?
Other favs are my Ampro Stylist, Bell And Howell 640 mag/opt machine in giant wooden box, Victor Greyline MK2, and Debrie.

The old Elmo 16cl is the main machine I use with the older ones being fired up every so often.

[Big Grin]

Patrick

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on March 01, 2009, 03:18 AM:

A reel of film which shows you how to thread the projector up???????????

That is just too funny [Big Grin]

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on March 01, 2009, 11:07 AM:

Well, having bought Eiki SSLs from the start (what, two years ago [Big Grin]

) I am throughly happy with their design and their performance. The slot loading, the steady picture, the reliability, all good things.

When I then sprang for the Eiki 3500 Xenon with the 350W lamp it was very familiar; same frame, but now with terrific Xenon light.
About the only 'shortcoming' I can think off is that I can't just fire up the Xenon and leave it on for the duration while I go from film to film, but I realize that the smaller self-contained models never offered that (as far as I know) so that's more in the "wishful thinking" category... [Wink]

Claus.

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on March 01, 2009, 12:23 PM:

Lars, here's Elmo's original one sheet picture:

Posted by Lars Pettersson (Member # 762) on March 01, 2009, 02:15 PM:

Oh God. [Eek!]

Now I understand your passionate romance with this thing! [Big Grin]

Bye the way, about what vintage would this be? Late sixties -early seventies?

Cheers
Lars

Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on March 02, 2009, 06:23 AM:

It would have to be the Elmo 16-CL.

But before I go, let me say that for sheer nostalgia and for a connoisseur of machinery, the Ampro Stylist Major Mk 2 wins hands down.

If I am screening films alone, or with very close friends or family, it's the Ampro; but for visitors I use the Elmo, as it's more modern and quieter, though many have expressed more than a passing interest in the Ampro!!

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