Hey all,
I've been looking at posts regarding the Kodak Pageant and CT1000 projectors, but couldn't a reference I found once upon a time that said that one is considered the safest projector on film. Is this correct? I'm looking for the projector that has the lowest risk/incidence of scratching, jamming and sprocket hole tearing.
Ideas? Roger? Herb?
Thanks!
Gentlest on film 16mm projector?
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MovieStuff
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- Real name: Roger Evans
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I agree with Nigel. Eiki, definately. The Eiki engineers looked at what the old Bell and Howell and Elmo units did wrong and then avoided all those common design errors. The Eiki is an elegantly simple machine and has the fastest loop restore I have ever seen on any 16mm projector. Very robust and simple to service and maintain, compared to other projectors. The newer B&H projectors were also made by Eiki. Your best bet is the Eiki Slim-Line SLO, which is all mechanical. However, they also made a Slim-Line SLO-NT, which has electronic controls. Both work great but the SLO is easier to service and maintain, seeing as it is all mechanical. The electronics in the NT are going to have age on them but work terrific, as long as they are functioning. I think I have a couple of NT units around the shop. Contact me off-list if you're interested.
Roger
http://www.moviestuff.tv
Roger
http://www.moviestuff.tv
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Herb Montes
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I'm kind of partial to Pageants which is why I own one and a CT1000. I was told the CT was made by Elmo and the Elmo is highly regarded by a film collector I know who serviced them. Many years ago I worked for the University of Texas at Austin Film Library and they had nothing but Pageants on campus. They were considered to be easy on film and durable. I serviced them along with running them in campus shows.
I did not encounter an Eiki until recently when someone lent me two basic models and a Xenon version to check out. I liked the slot loading Xenon. That projection lamp could burn holes in the screen, talk about bright. I did find the Eikis to be good projectors though the rubber belts in the take-up arms were falling apart. They should be replaced with spring types.
I do not rate most Bell and Howell units very highly. I have heard they have serviceability problems. I once tried one out in a pawnshop and it was bad. I had a hard time removing the film from the projector in the middle of the reel. Stay away from the Singer Autoload. That will eat film like a hungry kid slurping down spaghetti. 8O
I did not encounter an Eiki until recently when someone lent me two basic models and a Xenon version to check out. I liked the slot loading Xenon. That projection lamp could burn holes in the screen, talk about bright. I did find the Eikis to be good projectors though the rubber belts in the take-up arms were falling apart. They should be replaced with spring types.
I do not rate most Bell and Howell units very highly. I have heard they have serviceability problems. I once tried one out in a pawnshop and it was bad. I had a hard time removing the film from the projector in the middle of the reel. Stay away from the Singer Autoload. That will eat film like a hungry kid slurping down spaghetti. 8O
Eiki slot loaders are very nice. If you have a problem you can disengage the sprockets very quickly. I used a pair of Xenon slot-loaders when I was a projectionist and I rarely had munched film.
On the other hand, Bell and Howell auto-loaders can chew up film if they're not working properly or if you forget to trim the head of the film with the little attachment.
I'd avoid all the ancient projectors. I had old keystone 16mm that had sprockets for dual perf--I loaned it to someone who tried running a sound print through it....OOOPS--holes punched through the soundtrack.
On the other hand, Bell and Howell auto-loaders can chew up film if they're not working properly or if you forget to trim the head of the film with the little attachment.
I'd avoid all the ancient projectors. I had old keystone 16mm that had sprockets for dual perf--I loaned it to someone who tried running a sound print through it....OOOPS--holes punched through the soundtrack.