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I am NOT a mechanic. Opening the back of a projector scares the hell out of me. I have tried to meddle before, but learned my lessons the hard way. And if it is something to do with the electrics..... that is a NO NO full stop.
Browsing Ebay UK on Saturday afternoon, I came across and Elmo ST600M for sale. Excellent starting price. Probably too excellent. There was a chance to "Make an Offer." I looked at the description. All it said was "Projector. Like New," with a couple of pictures.
I know there is a saying that if it is too good to be true.... it usually is. But also there is instinct. It's happened to me before. I spotted a Disney Derann feature which only had a photo of the box art cover. The description was "like new." Thinking to myself that at the "Buy It Now" price they were asking, it could possibly be a 1x400' ...... except this item was never released as a 400' and the art work was certainly from the full feature. Anyway, working on my instinct, I took the gamble and it paid off big style. Sure enough, a few days later the full feature lands on my doorstep...... for a fraction of the price it was worth.
Back to last Saturday. My instinct was telling me that this may be a little gem. Priced far too low and tiny description. It just shouted that it was coming from someone not of our hobby. So, I offered a slightly higher price, and a little later it was accepted.
Noticing the buyer only lived within a 30 minute drive, I emailed them to ask if I could collect it myself (the petrol costing far less than the postage did) the following day.
It was agreed.
So, Sunday morning I crossed the Humber Bridge to the nearby town to pick it up. I was greeted by a very nice lady. Said they have had it since new, hardly used it and had just been stored in a corner. It came with one or two extras, too!
Getting it home I was eager to test it. Turned it on....... apart from a murmur and the light working...... nothing! My heart sank. Let's take the back off and see if there was something obviously wrong.
OH YES !...... (you probably know what I am going to say, now).......................... disintegrated belt drive and arm pulley belt. YUK! However, it seemed that the engine was turning over perfectly and, had it not been for this hiccup, looked as though it would work.
SO...... straight back on Ebay to order a new belt system. It arrived this morning and, putting my reluctance to meddle to one side, removed the remains of the last one and replaced it with the new ones which were far better quality !
Switched it on again.....
PERFECT !
Wow ! I know it doesn't seem much of a big deal to some of you, but going out of ones comfort zone and achieving a result is a lovely feeling. It doesn't happen often, but today...... SUCCESS.
Ran a couple of films through it. Runs great at both 18 and 24, great sound, tracks 1 and 2 and 1+2 work perfectly as does the sound/silent button, frame and loop.
Finally, I have my wonderful "new" Elmo ST600M to complement my GS1200 and it really DOES look as good as new!
Yes, I am one very happy chappy !
.
Browsing Ebay UK on Saturday afternoon, I came across and Elmo ST600M for sale. Excellent starting price. Probably too excellent. There was a chance to "Make an Offer." I looked at the description. All it said was "Projector. Like New," with a couple of pictures.
I know there is a saying that if it is too good to be true.... it usually is. But also there is instinct. It's happened to me before. I spotted a Disney Derann feature which only had a photo of the box art cover. The description was "like new." Thinking to myself that at the "Buy It Now" price they were asking, it could possibly be a 1x400' ...... except this item was never released as a 400' and the art work was certainly from the full feature. Anyway, working on my instinct, I took the gamble and it paid off big style. Sure enough, a few days later the full feature lands on my doorstep...... for a fraction of the price it was worth.
Back to last Saturday. My instinct was telling me that this may be a little gem. Priced far too low and tiny description. It just shouted that it was coming from someone not of our hobby. So, I offered a slightly higher price, and a little later it was accepted.
Noticing the buyer only lived within a 30 minute drive, I emailed them to ask if I could collect it myself (the petrol costing far less than the postage did) the following day.
It was agreed.
So, Sunday morning I crossed the Humber Bridge to the nearby town to pick it up. I was greeted by a very nice lady. Said they have had it since new, hardly used it and had just been stored in a corner. It came with one or two extras, too!
Getting it home I was eager to test it. Turned it on....... apart from a murmur and the light working...... nothing! My heart sank. Let's take the back off and see if there was something obviously wrong.
OH YES !...... (you probably know what I am going to say, now).......................... disintegrated belt drive and arm pulley belt. YUK! However, it seemed that the engine was turning over perfectly and, had it not been for this hiccup, looked as though it would work.
SO...... straight back on Ebay to order a new belt system. It arrived this morning and, putting my reluctance to meddle to one side, removed the remains of the last one and replaced it with the new ones which were far better quality !
Switched it on again.....
PERFECT !
Wow ! I know it doesn't seem much of a big deal to some of you, but going out of ones comfort zone and achieving a result is a lovely feeling. It doesn't happen often, but today...... SUCCESS.
Ran a couple of films through it. Runs great at both 18 and 24, great sound, tracks 1 and 2 and 1+2 work perfectly as does the sound/silent button, frame and loop.
Finally, I have my wonderful "new" Elmo ST600M to complement my GS1200 and it really DOES look as good as new!
Yes, I am one very happy chappy !
.
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