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Can anyone tell me the function of the film transport element shown with the arrow here? I don't see it in other photographs of this projector. Thanks.
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Hi mark, the purpose of that extra sprocket may have been for synchronizing the projector to an external tape recorder, using the Bolex Synchromat device.
Before the advent of magnetic sound stripe on the film there were quite a few synchronizing devices on the market, Eumig had their own sync accessory known as the Phonomat, which was later integrated into the best selling Eumig P8 projector. The Bolex was probably the best, using a flexible cable drive from the inching knob of the M8 projectors to couple to the Synchromat box located alongside the tape recorder. I had the Eumig Phonomat and it worked very well for synching commentary and music but not good enough for lip-sync.
Having said all that, there still remains a bit of a mystery about the purpose of that extra sprocket on the 18-5. The extra sprocket is clearly shown in the 1961 sales brochure of the film at the Bolex Collector web site. And the instruction book with my own 18-5 projector specifically shows the extra sprocket installed and identifies it as "sprocket and guide roller for sound recording". Yet my own 18-5 does not have the extra sprocket, and there is just a plastic plug in the panel where it should be! And if the synchromat coupling connected to the front inching knob why would you need that extra sprocket anyway? Looks like Bolex had a change of mind here for some reason which was associated with coupling to a tape recorder..
Here is a comprehensive discussion of this topic on the archived forum, where you can see a picture of the Bolex set up:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-b...c;f=1;t=011286Last edited by Paul Adsett; February 14, 2023, 03:07 PM. -
Many thanks!Comment
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An outboard sound head? There were several available even back then.Comment
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It does appear that the path for any tape or film on that sprocket would interfere with the film path.Comment
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