NOVICE Looking to buy an 8mm film projector with sound

[Jennifer Fein]

I’m totally confused 🤦🏻♀️

[Robert Held]

Yes, that's all correct. Your film is Regular 8mm, not Super 8.

[Jennifer Fein]

So most of my reels are dated early 1950’s to 60’s and then some are after 1965 (when super 8 came out but they still look like 8mm to me.

[Fred Hess]

Jennifer - It appears that your Ektasound 285 will play both R8 and S8, so there must be a switch or lever on the machine to set the transport to either R8 or S8. You mentioned that the film goes in a ways, then stops, which will happen if you're trying to load one format when the machine is set to the other format. From your pics, your film is definitely R8 so make sure your projector is set for R8. I doubt that this film has any sound on it.

[Jennifer Fein]

Yes. It was set to regular 8mm. And I cleaned out the film track and dust.

[Jennifer Fein]

I’ve been working on it all day and now I see what’s happening. The film feeds and the automatic pick up picks it up and when it gets to the small roller it starts to bunch up and stops and I can’t see why. I’m going to upload a video to Vimeo to post here.

[Jennifer Fein]

Here’s the video

[Jennifer Fein]

This is the handbook image

[Jim Schrader]

Jennifer before you wreck anymore film in that unit consider a eumig that plays both formats they also made a unit that plays 8mm sound the only thing is one has to make sure the gate and sprocket wheels are changed to work with whatever format your using.

[Jennifer Fein]

Thank you!! I give up on this thing. Is there a model you like?

[Jim Schrader]

I had the eumig 800 series years ago but sold it cause I don’t have many commercial 8mm films maybe 2-3 check out around online or do a search on here

[Jennifer Fein]

I just received the keystone 100 I ordered on eBay. I’m threading it now and as I am I noticed the supply spindle doesn’t seem to move the way the take up spindle does. It’s this how it’s supposed to be? Before I turn it on I wondered if anyone could tell me.

[Robert Held]

That's correct. It doesn't turn freely during threading like many supply reels do. There's a clutch on the supply spindle and it will release when the motor starts. If you want to make sure the projector is operating correctly, you can run it with no film in. In the forward position, the light will come on, the sprockets will both turn and the take up spindle will rotate clockwise. The supply spindle should then be able to be also be rotated by hand.