Beaulieu 708 El Capstan Drive Stereo and sound acetate films

[Brian Harrington]

I just read in an ad for one that you should only use polyester based sound films, since acetate based films will emit a high-pitched squealing sound. It can be used with polyester or acetate silent films, however.

Anyone know why? Is this the only Beaulieu model for which this rule applies?

I've had projectors emit a high-pitched squeal, and the solution was cleaning all the sound-related parts with contact cleaner. Worked like a charm.

[Alan Rik]

I saw the ad for that projector. That means the projector needs some maintenance. I have a Beaulieu 708 HTI Stereo and it plays all films no problem and I have had about 4 Beaulieu 708 Projectors in the past and they all were able to play acetate and polyester no problem. Buyer beware!

[Rob Young]

Brian, my Beaulieu708el plays acetate fine. It does seem very slightly nosier, perhaps something to do with the extra film thickness around the sprockets?

But sound films, such as those released by Classic Home Cinema back in the 2000's from Andec, on acetate base, have no sound issues.

Occasionally, some films do physically screech slightly as they pass the sound head. Lifting the pressure assembly very, very slightly stops this, as does a treatment with Filmguard. I think this has more to do with slightly over width film though and not a polyester / acetate issue. Or it could just be my own Beaulieu, although none of the guides are worn. It's rarely a problem and as I said, not an issue with acetate.

Apparently Beaulieu built the 708el as they wanted something that would show case films shot with Beaulieu cameras. Given that home movie film was mostly acetate, I really don't think the 708el is acetete intolerant!

[Brian Harrington]

Thnx guys.

Fumeos won't play B&W films, Beaulieus won't play acetate sound films. Yes, they will. No they won't. POW!!!!

I guess my collection of films is different anyway. I haven't bought prints made in the last 20 years or so. My newest print is probably from the early 80s. Majority of my films are Blackhawk films printed in the 70s or earlier.

I'll probably stick with the devils I know, and not pursue more headaches. It's taken me nearly 30 years to understand the idiosyncrasies of the Elmo ST-1200HD.

So I guess Chinons are a piece of junk, since it is NOS and already has problems running a steady picture with most films, while these higher end machines run into trouble after 40 years.

Super 8 is Super 8 is Super 8. A film sold as "Super 8" should run in any Super 8 projector. Any projector sold as "Super 8" should run any film sold as Super 8.

A Super 8 reel is a Super 8 reel is a Super 8 reel. Other than capacity incompatibilities, a Super 8 reel should fit on the spindle of any Super 8 projector. Any Super 8 projector's spindle should accept any Super 8 reel.

Yet Beaulieu's spindles wouldn't accept some Super 8 reels, so people forced them on, and broke the spindles.

If Super 8 films were produced outside of the Super 8 specification, they shouldn't have been sold as "Super 8," whether too thick, too thin, too wide, too narrow, or whatever. It just makes no sense to me.

When I hear that projectors like the Chinon weren't designed for packaged films, it blows my mind. Now it sounds like Beaulieus were designed for films shot with Beaulieu cameras. It shouldn't make a difference. Super 8 is Super 8 is Super 8.

[Dominique De Bast]

I projected many black and white films with my Fumeo, without problem. And I never heard before that the Beaulieu (I'm lucky to own one, as well), don't play acetate films. Maybe someone had a trouble with one projetor and assumed they all act the same way?

[Brian Harrington]

Well I guess my assumption was bad based on that one for sale. The way it was stated made it sound like this was a "feature" of that model of Beaulieu.
Then I see on this forum that someone said Fumeos have trouble with B&W films. When I see a pattern forming on projectors that can't handle certain types of film, I wanted to investigate.

I guess I thought the grass was greener elsewhere, but I think my Elmo ST-1200HD is pretty darn good considering. But the funny thing is that I've discovered lower-end machines that seem to outperform the Elmo in certain areas.

I'm starting to develop a theory that the higher-end projectors have been used to death moreso than those targeted for the average home user. "My Uncle Bill bought a Eumig once to show us some films, used it a few times, then stored it in the attic for 40 years."

[Oliver Feld]

Brian
In my opinion it’s always good to clean films before screening to avoid problems like a high-pitched squealing sound with the Beaulieu 708.
I have two of them and both play acetate and polyester perfectly.
(Once I screened an acetate used print without cleaning it and the picture wasn’t that steady. Maybe because of the dirt in the sprocket holes…)

Film cleaning and a perfect loop is the answer to almost everything with the Beaulieu!

[Dominique De Bast]

Film cleaning and a perfect loop is the answer to almost everything with the Beaulieu!

Also, if the manual theading doesn't work properly, make sure the leader is cut with the Beaulieu trimmer.

[Brian Harrington]

Brian
In my opinion it’s always good to clean films before screening to avoid problems like a high-pitched squealing sound with the Beaulieu 708.
I have two of them and both play acetate and polyester perfectly.
(Once I screened an acetate used print without cleaning it and the picture wasn’t that steady. Maybe because of the dirt in the sprocket holes…)

Film cleaning and a perfect loop is the answer to almost everything with the Beaulieu!

Yes, for most other projectors, too. That being said, most of my machines will run film perfectly without lube. The Elmo ST-1200HD seems to be very hard on film, since even after one 400 foot reel, the gate and the rest of the film path shows lots of emulsion dust. It shows up on screen, too. The same (unlubed, un-cleaned) film will not cause that kind of dirt build-up in my other projectors.

My audience doesn't mind the occassional dust showing on the sides of the frame, or the occassional hair in the gate. Why is that? Well, because the audience is only me!

I used to be a nut about cleaning newly acquired prints before projecting them, but that was long ago. I have plenty of Film Renew, but to safely use it I need to bring stuff upstairs from my basement to a place where I can open up a window and not breathe in those fumes. I now reserve cleaning/lubing to problem films.

[Shane C. Collins]

For film cleaning, and lubrication these days nothing beats Filmguard! That stuff is amazing with no fumes! I use it for all my currently shot home movies. I usually clean my films every few years to keep them lubricated, and running smoothly through the projector. I swear my films even look cleaner, and sharper after applying Filmguard. I rarely have unsteady images, and I contribute that to Filmguard. I've also noticed, as a result of applying Filmguard, films don't scratch as easily.

[Dave Bickford]

For film cleaning, and lubrication these days nothing beats Filmguard! That stuff is amazing with no fumes!

I’ve had a handful of films I’ve purchased within the last two or three years that definitely needed cleaning. One in particular was exceptionally unstable in a Eumig, and squealed horribly in my Sankyo. Turns out the film was actually a bit sticky for some reason. A cleaning with FilmGuard solved the problem, and it removed tons of dirt and grime. It was the dirtiest film I’ve ever seen. (You know what I mean. 😂)

[Brian Harrington]

I'm a died-in-the-wool FilmRenew guy and have enough left to last me probably 20 years! And when I say "fumes" it is not so much what I can smell, because even what you can't smell can be harmful. I wouldn't use any cleaner without an open window nearby, regardless of how it smells, or what the manufacturer says.

The Elmo ST-1200HD runs films smoothly regardless of how lubed they are, or not. I find the same with Sanyos and Yamawas. Of course there's always a problem print that absolutely needs it. And if I need to go through a newly acquired print to make repairs, then cleaning is a must to remove fingerprints and dust that was probably picked up during splicing -- and lately I've been using cement rather than tape to make splices for that reason.

I've also soaked prints in FilmRenew if they had an annoying curl or baggy-sag.

[Rob Young]

Brian, whilst super 8 does vary on thickness depending on the type of stock, and whilst some super package movies may be slightly out of spec regarding width, most good quality projectors should be designed to cope with such imperfections.

The Elmo ST1200HD is a fabulous machine, lovingly referred to as a “work horse” for a reason. As is the Beaulieu 708el. I’ve found both great machines to own and use. Like everything else, they have to be loved and working correctly.

My only edge toward the Beaulieu is that the sound never “wows”, which I’ve found sometimes happens with the Elmo. They have totally different methods of driving the capstan and I personally prefer the motor driven design in the Beaulieu.

When I referred to Beaulieu trying to design a showcase machine, I meant that they wanted to achieve that in every respect. Of course nothing is perfect…

[Brian Harrington]

Understood. All these old projectors develop warts over the years. If I bought a Beaulieu, it would be completely new to me, and I'd be starting from scratch when problems arise -- which they inevitably do.