Splicing your prints onto fewer reels

[Lee Hardcastle]

Hi,
When movies originally are released on super8 on say for example 4x 600feet reels...

Do collectors/owners take it upon themselves to attempt to squeeze them onto fewer reels, such as 2x 1200 reels?

So that there's less intervals/changing of reels?

And in doing so, does it "de-value" the film print for other collectors?

What's your view on this practice?

[Joseph Banfield]

I always take 2x200' films and remount them onto a single 400' reel. It may devalue the film to do what I do but since it is for my enjoyment it doesn't bother me. I really can't imagine running an older feature film that is mounted on 8x200' reels when it could be easily respooled to two 800' reels providing your projector can handle that reel size. Now for those out there, and there are quite a lot, who value original box art this would probably not be the thing to do.

[Tony Kelly]

Hi Lee i agree with joseph i recently bought starwars on 6 x 400 feet reels and i have a long play unit and supa spools so no guessing what i did yep whole film spliced together on one 2000 feet reel, for me its best way to watch a full feature, some prefer 2 x 1200 feet reels, not me, i personally dont think it de-values a film, however i kept/keep the original leaders and tails to splice back on if i were to re-sell the film even then i think certain films like mine keep their value, if however new leaders and tails are spliced back on does that de-value the film ? im not sure it does because in this hobby some films are very sought after even without original leaders and tails thats just my opinion and some films if on auction on ebay say are worth as much as the collector wants to pay, as we all know sometimes these films especially derran prints go for silly money.

[Kim Trampus]

Not too long ago I sold my marker feature film of Saturday Night Fever that I spliced from (8) 400' reels on to 2 aluminum 1200' reels. I thought that it would attract lots of buyers so I did not put a reserve on it. It sold for .99 cents plus $12.00 shipping. So learned that I should have kept the small 400' reels to unmount the film and sell it. https://www.ebay.com/mesh/ord/detail...-39809&mode=ME

[Tony Kelly]

wow kim thats a good point, because some people do not have a projector to play even 1200ft reels, however i guess maybe it does devalue a film sometimes, if i were ever to sell starwars it would go back on 6 x 400ft reels anyway as it has a nice custom made bonum box.

[Winbert Hutahaean]

Not too long ago I sold my marker feature film of Saturday Night Fever that I spliced from (8) 400' reels on to 2 aluminum 1200' reels. I thought that it would attract lots of buyers so I did not put a reserve on it. It sold for .99 cents plus $12.00 shipping. So learned that I should have kept the small 400' reels to unmount the film and sell it. https://www.ebay.com/mesh/ord/detail...-39809&mode=ME

Did I read this well? you sold your F/L Saturday Night Fever for 0.99? If you put in the correct category that was almost impossible. Someone would blindly bid for $60 at least only for the two empty reels. A 12' aluminum reel is always sold for more than $50 if it is Elmo. If it is other brand at least $30.

And this is with a valuable film inside it.

Your Ebay link did not work... so could you give us the Ebay ID so we can see the bid.

..or I've misread the context?

Cheers,
winbert

[Brian Fretwell]

When Derann issued some films the negative they were given to use sometimes did not allow 600ft spools to be filled completely. I managed to get a couple of 4x600ft ones on 3 600ft spools, saving shelf space and time in changing them when showing.

[Kim Trampus]

Did I read this well? you sold your F/L Saturday Night Fever for 0.99? If you put in the correct category that was almost impossible. Someone would blindly bid for $60 at least only for the two empty reels. A 12' aluminum reel is always sold for more than $50 if it is Elmo. If it is other brand at least $30.

And this is with a valuable film inside it.

Your Ebay link did not work... so could you give us the Ebay ID so we can see the bid.

..or I've misread the context?

Cheers,
winbert

The Item is no longer there but here is a screen shot of my final sale.

[Chip Gelmini]

I have been collecting since 1978. Those of you who have visited my home know how many films I have. Everything is on big reels mostly 1200 foot and stored in 16mm cans. One hour reels can help you in many ways. You can relax and enjoy the movie with occasionally spot checking the machine. At this point I would never go back to smaller reels. And quite a few of my films are on 1600 & 2000 foot reels. Those can be all on one reel, or in the case of James Cameron's Titanic on 2 x 2000.

Those of you familiar with 35mm projection will also know that 2000 feet of 35mm is the same as 400 foot of super 8. Therefore, a feature on a pair of 1200 foot reels (6 x 400) would be the same as 2 x 6000 in 35mm (6 x 2000). Reels 1-2-3 on reel 1 and reels 4-5-6 on reel 2 with only one changeover or break between reels.

For lamp life too, the big reels can be helpful. A GS1200 lamp like others have about 50 hours of life. So, count the reels and count the hours:

25 reels = 1/2 of lamp life is used

35 reels = open the lamp house remove and rotate then re-install the lamp for even burn

40 reels = change the lamp

And never loose a lamp during a reel. As for those 10 hours that are thrown away I'd rather do that then get frustrated loosing a lamp during a show. For this procedure to work - a big reel that is less than full such as reel one - can be filled with a cartoon or trailers to maximize running time and lamp life.

Food for thought. It's been said that with the early 35mm Xenon bulbs each time the surge went through to strike it, significant life was lost due to the power surge. EVERY TIME it was struck. This rule of thumb can apply to every kind of lamp that is lit. Even a battery flash light.

Strike it less and have it last longer.

You can think about what I wrote or come up with an excuse. Whatever floats your boat. Just remember I'm both a retired 36 year career projectionist and a film collector. Having learned these steps in the big houses - I've come up with ways to use those same steps with super 8. And I can tell you I never loose a lamp during a reel unless the lamp is manufactured with a defect. And yes: That has happened perhaps 4 times in 20+ years.....

And let this sink in: Splicing tape is much cheaper at cost then a lamp!

CHIP GELMINI

[Paul Adsett]

I am a big fan of classical musical films and I have most of the superb quality MGM feature films printed by Derann as well as their wonderful print of the Paramount feature Grease. These all came from Derann mounted on 6 x 400ft reels. I have remounted all of them on 4 x 600ft reels. The reason I went this way, rather than 2 x 1200ft reels is that on all these films I usually like to pick out one reel for watching, rather than having to project an hours worth of the film, I can select a favorite half hour or so of great musical numbers. This works well for me and the only time they get mounted onto 1200ft reels is if I am showing the full feature to family or friends.
As for whether or not cutting original leaders off devalues the film, it would have to be an extremely picky person who would find that objectionable as long as new leaders are spliced on.

[Chip Gelmini]

Leaders and tails can be saved for re-assembly later. Always remember to leave one or two frames of picture on the leader. Then you can correctly identify the reel and leaders when the frames match.

[Paul Adsett]

In rereading my last post I hope it did not convey the wrong impression. Chip is ever the professional projectionist and I salute his exacting dedication to the perfect presentation and maintainance of his film collection. My intent was simply to state that anyone who thinks that removing original leaders from the film would decrease their value in any way is a very exacting person.

[Chip Gelmini]

No offense Paul. I always enjoy reading your posts and besides we're just awesome film collectors offering excellent advice. 😊

[Kim Trampus]

I learned my lesson to save the leaders and small reels and to break the film apart before selling it.

[Paul Adsett]

I learned my lesson to save the leaders and small reels and to break the film apart before selling it.

Kim, could you please expand on your "lessons learned' experience?