Playing a reel that is back to front?

[James Jones]

Hi,
I am very new to 8mm projectors and I'm just trying to get the hang of it all. This is a stupid question and hopefully it has a simple answer. If a film is on my reel back to front, as in, it is completely wound onto the take-up reel, how do I go about rewinding it onto the original reel?
Thanks,
James.

PS: Thank you to those who helped me fix my projector, it is greatly appreciated!

[Douglas Meltzer]

James,

Since you have the Eumig S910, you can rewind it on the projector. This video will show you how, at 2:24.

[James Jones]

Thank you very much, I apologise for these questions!

[Douglas Meltzer]

No apology necessary! We are all here to help and encourage people who get into this great hobby.

[Paul Adsett]

James here are a few facts about correct orientation of the film:

1. Hold the reel of film up in front of you with the film strip coming off the top right side of the spool. A film ready for projection will have the little sprocket holes closest to you. This is the way it goes on the projector.

2. If the film needs rewinding the film sprocket holes will be furthest away from you when you hold the reel up in the manner described above.

3. To rewind the film on the projector, you put the film onto the rear take up spool with film sprocket holes facing you, then put an empty reel on the top front feed spool shaft Lead the film directly to the top side of the front empty reel, hook the end of the film into the little slot on the hub of the reel, and turn the projector to rewind mode. The film should rewind in an ANTI-CLOCKWISE direction onto the front empty reel with SPROCKET HOLES FACING YOU.

i just saw Doug's post where he says you have a Eumig 910. These have a unique coaxial reel arrangement where the take up reel is on the inside and the supply reel is on the outside. The film is wound back in a loop which passes over the front top roller, with the roller pulled up for rewind operation.

[Phil Moors]

James, this has happened to me but for entirely different reasons back in the 1980’s I was showing 8mm films at a friends uncle’s house. We were having a great time, watched Jaws 2x 400 and several other films. Finally decided to watch Derann’s 4 x 400’ The Adventures of Robin Hood. I’d had a few beers and managed to put the take up spool on the front spindle and tried to load the film. It took me about 10 minutes to realise, happy days. Alcohol and cine projecting don’t always mix. Happy screenings.

[James Jones]

Thanks Paul and Phil, apologies for the slow replies, I've been very busy but I have also been projecting! I work at a local independent cinema and I took it there and played the Psycho trailer on an 8mm print for them. They enjoyed it! I will take your advice Paul, thank you for the precise guidance. Phil, I can relate to these errors haha, tenfold, me being a newbie with it all in 2022. Was so excited about it at the cinema that I hadn't realised my whole Donald Duck reel had detached and was all over the floor. Spent the next half an hour untangling it! Unscathed thankfully. Thank you all, I do now have another issue with my projector but I shall make a separate post, they never give me a break but I still love the hobby. I ordered a copy of the Empire Strikes Back on 8mm last night and am happily awaiting its arrival.
Thanks all!
James.

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

This reminds me of similar question in another field of my interest.

Once a younger asked me questions about cassette tape for something like...
"Bro, can you make your own record on cassette tape? Really? I thought that must be only pre-recorded from the factory."
"I had listened to the end of side A. Can I repeat this side again without having to play through side B?"
"Dang my player acted up and spilled out about a few inches of tape from the cassette. I'm lost. What to do to fix this?"

Some extremely common knowledge in my generation where I don't even think about it, had literally been lost.

[Brian Fretwell]

As for
"Dang my player acted up and spilled out about a few inches of tape from the cassette. I'm lost. What to do to fix this?"

I suppose not many people use pencils to write anymore.