New 8mm Projector Manufacture

[Maurice Leakey]

Indeed.
Portable 35mm projectors were quite rare, although I did use one in the mid 50s when I was doing my National Service in the RAF.
Not sure why the RAF should have one as the N stands for Naval, the overall size and weight were just sufficient for loading through a ship's hatch, or so I was told.

G.B.N Portable Cinema Projector | Avsh (avs-hire.com)

[Adrian Winchester]

Thanks to Patrick and Dominique for raising awareness regarding the Cinemec 16mm and 35mm projectors. It's great to know that production still continues and by spreading the word, we may be able to help by sending customers their way. Although I've never been equipped with 35mm, the LH 400 is exactly the sort of compact, portable projector to tempt me if I ever have a proper home cinema. The price is lower than I would have feared and I'll keep it in mind, although I dread to think what the total import costs would be! But if you're seeking such a 35mm portable, I get the impression that used ones are exceptionally hard to find.

[Patrick Walsh]

Most interesting read guys, I actually spoke to Cinemec in Italy in 2015 about the possibility of building a super 8 sound mag playback only machine, they said it would be possible to make one by using their moulds/castings for their small table-top 16mm machine then designing a super 8 gate/sprockets/soundhead etc and using the 24v 250w lamp, but they said the cost of the machines would be higher than their 16mm and probably more than their 35mm machines due to the labour costs of the design work and tooling needed but it would not be impossible to do.

[Dominique De Bast]

I wonder if the two companies are in some way connected?

An Italian member may enlight us about that. All I found is that Cinemec is based in Firenze and Fumeo had an address in Milano, but that may not mean anything.

[Maurice Leakey]

.......Looks like the Italian company also manufactured a super 8 projector as well. It's completely inspired by the Fumeo machines.....

I wonder if the two companies are in some way connected?

[Lee Mannering]

Thanks Maurice for the catalog info. I use the SNT-2 which is compact and a little lighter to carry out purchased new and only used a couple of times by the owner. The magnetic side is the best I have heard from any 16mm projector having quite a few old film makers movies in the archive.

Indeed Paul. My favorite GS1200 has developed a fault now GRRR but we continue to fix them.

[Dominique De Bast]

Looks like the Italian company also manufactured a super 8 projector as well. It's completely inspirated by the Fumeo machines.

Microtecnica Super 8 170 V Xenon - YouTube

[Steve Klare]

Yes, and the documentation available is often terrible! These are actually pretty simple circuits, but without a schematic and parts list, it's like driving with the windshield painted over!

I emailed Elmo like a year ago asking if they had any service manuals available. You would think that even back in the age of microfilm, they would have at least archived this stuff before they threw it in the dumpster!

-but nobody was prepared for the resilience of film, I heard a prediction it was five years from total extinction back in roughly 1980.

[Paul Adsett]

That would be great Steve, as the vast majority of unfixable problems ( on Elmo's anyway) are electronic. Trouble is all the electronic repair companies that I know of will not even look at a 1980's vintage PWB repair on something like a GS1200, even if you have the service manual. So it all comes down to DIY.

[Steve Klare]

What I could imagine working is a company offering re-manufacturing services for a popular line of projectors or even more likely kits of parts to do a re-build yourself.

-maybe send in your dead printed circuit board, get somebody else's fitted with new semiconductors and electrolytic caps and then tested.

[Paul Adsett]

Bottom line here is that it will never happen, no one is ever going to manufacture a new S8 projector or camera, the upfront costs of design and tooling and the costs of parts manufacture, assembly, and overhead, make the whole prospect impossible for a now specialist market like super 8 film. Even Kodak now realize that, their much touted super 8 camera of now, what is it 6 years ago, has yet to make an appearance.
In any case there is no need for new super 8 projectors or cameras, there are thousands of good used ones around, many in mint condition, and most of them far superior in quality than anything that would be made today.

[Joseph Banfield]

Even if some major manufacturer were building new 8mm machines, I would imagine that they would be so full of plastics now that they would not stand the test of time for very long. The new ones would undoubtedly make the plastic-based Silma and their Bauer clones from the late 70's seem like tanks!

[Dominique De Bast]

Thanks, Patrick !

[Patrick Walsh]

Their LH400 35mm projector is worth 2990 euros new ex factory

[Dominique De Bast]

Waw, very intersting, Patrick. I had a look at their website (it works only in Italian CINEMEC - Impianti cinematografici / produzione proiettori ed accessori per cinematografia). They don't put any prices, so I have no idea of the budget needed for a new 16 mm projector in 2021 (if anyone knows...).

CINEMEC 16mm Xenon mod. SX 1600 - YouTube

LH400 Cinemec -Firenze - YouTube