Elmo 16F vs Eiki RT-0

[Bank Vichyothin]

Hi, I am getting another 16mm projector for my collection and cannot decide between Elmo 16F and Eiki RT-0. Anyone have experience on these 2 models can share ideas and thoughts ? Thanks

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

Elmo 16F series: แข็งแรง/ทน/ถึก กลไกซับซ้อนนิดนึง การซ่อมจะยากกว่าหน่อย รุ่นหลังๆมีจุดอ่อนคือเฟืองไนล่อนที่จะแตก&เสื่อมสภา พตามอายุขัยเป็นส่วนใหญ่เลยครับ
Eiki: กลไกเรียบง่าย ชิ้นส่วนไม่มาก ระบบไม่ซับซ้อน ซ่อมได้ไม่ยากครับ ข้อเสียคือระบบ autoload ที่ไม่ 100% เท่าไหร่ ความทะนุถนอมฟิล์มไม่สู้ Elmo ครับ

PS - sorry for others. Can't resist using my local language with member from the same country with me.


Elmo 16F series: strong/resistant/tough The mechanism is a bit complicated. Repairs will be a little more difficult. Later models have a weak point which is the nylon gear that will break & deteriorate. Mostly according to age.

Eiki: Simple mechanism Not many parts The system is not complicated. It's not difficult to repair. The downside is the autoload system that isn't 100%. Film preservation isn't as good as Elmo's.

[Bank Vichyothin]

thank you, it's very helpful for me to decide.. I think Elmo is the better choice ....ขอบคุณมากครับสำหรับข้อมูล

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

To my understanding, in USA & Europe the Elmo 16-F series wasn't so popular and harder to find than Eiki but...



If you happened to come across this one especially the early production, which utilizes CIRCULATED OIL LUBRICATION SYSTEM (much like its 35mm counterparts) - the only 16mm portable projector I know of that had this feature, just go get it! And unlike the later model its gear train will never crack (different material, bakelite - like gear).
No doubt that it's heavy & noisy, but as long as there're some oil in the reservoir & enough grease on the gear, it will outlast you (and possibly your descandant) with ease.


The later model while have similar layout, but with several "improvements" inside. You'll get faster lens & better halogen lamp thus brigher image. It's whisper-quiet, but at the cost of "downgrading" to conventional sealed grease-lubed intermittent tank and its quirky nylon gear train which will eventually crack & break apart. I'm super fortunate to find one with still-intact gear. No doubt that I'll keep this one with me until the rest of time.


PS thanks Douglas Meltzer for your English translation in my original post. Much appreciated!

[Bank Vichyothin]

Thanks for the post. I guess the later model of Elmo 16-F you mentioned is located on the right. The one I'm getting looks exactly like this one and I think it's very hard to find the early production model that you own. So I think I'd better train myself to replace the gear