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[Stinky Cat Theater]

Any one use an old film projector?  I thought it might be fun.  There are some interesting old movie titles on film reels on the ebay.  Now and then the comforting clicky sound of a real projector along with watching the film run through the machine seems like good times.

As one might expect the tech toy review sites don't seem to offer much advice on what one might need to look for in a machine.

Assuming I could find a nice working projector that may still have parts/bulbs available, any advice or lessons learned?

[madhousefilms]

You are talking about 16mm right? or Super 8? or 70MM? 

The reason I ask is I have an old B&H 16 projector I crank up every so often to play the 16mm films I made in my college days.

I stored up on the bulbs, splicing tape and leader when I found a place going out of business in CA about five years ago and one here in PHX that went out of business shortly after.

I would buy lots and lots of white leader and some splicing tape. I usually put about 15 seconds worth in front of mine for safety reasons (see below.)

I don't know how familar you are with running a film projector but since they are "vintage"...lol...the word now used instead of old...if you are not careful the PJ can tear threw a lot of film before you figure out the quirks of your particular projector. Because of this nifty feature of old PJs I sent everything I have on film out to have digital backups made. Just incase.

Any film you have, if it is old, will most likely have a few torn sproket holes. Most projectors are forgiving of this. EXCEPT when you are threading it. That being said,, mine is a PITA sometimes and will sputter and jump. But that is usually easy to fix. I have some editing splicing tape (I used to use it in the film editing bay days...I am only 48 but in filmschool we used to use the old AB roll editing decks.) When I locate the problem area I just stick the film on my splicer for hole registration and mend it.

The newer "vintage" models are self-threading (as it were) though mine is not. I actually prefer doing it myself. My friend has one that self-threads and it chews up film from time to time. The PJ will usually just chew away the first couple of inches of your leader. This goes back to what I said earlier about putting extra leader on your films.

As can you tell, taking care of film is a labor of love. But there is nothing like actually touching real film or the smell of burning dust from a rolling projector. I remember getting to edit my first reel of 35mm film and...well...I almost had an inappropriate physical response...LOL.

 I might be able to answer some questions for you if you have any (assuming you are talking about a 16mm or Super 8 projetor.)

[Stinky Cat Theater]

Sorry.  I was thinking 16mm.  It seems there are plenty of films available for that format.

35mm (or 70) may be something to look into, but it seems expensive and harder to find stuff for it.

Very good advice.  I think I'll get the stuff together during this off season.  Even integrate it into my home theater set up.  Good Times.

Been so busy getting the backyard theater together on the cheap (reletively Ha.). 

I'm sure I'll bother you as I start getting my hands dirty.  Thanks!

[madhousefilms]

I was kidding about the 70mm or 35 mm...

No bother at all. As you can tell I really love talking about film, the PJs, etc. If you end up not being able to find supplies you need let me know. I have a few sources that still carry stuff. Though it is dwindling fast. I can even fire you off some leader if you can not find it.

Phil

[Star View Cinema]

I also have a B&H 16mm and this is where my outdoor film parties began. This projector also came with a nice extra lens that zooms in and enlarges the picture.

In my opinion Bell and Howell projectors can be very finicky and chew up a lot of film, the ELMO 16mm is a much better projector that is much smoother running. I learned about these at the Millennium Workshop in NYC while making and editing some short films there.

I agree, there is nothing like the flicker and look of celluloid and you can't have too much leader. Always, always clean the dust out of the film gate with compressed air before showing a nice print. I also rember people putting a little spit on the leader to attract dust to it while threading the machine, you just have to remember to clean this off after you rewind or it can get back in the machine.

There's also no mistaking that optical sound, I know you know what I mean Madhouse.

This makes me want to pull my collection out and view some, I have a mix of cartoons, comedy, educational, a boxing film and some stuff I shot.

Jennifer

http://www.starviewcinema.com

[Stinky Cat Theater]

Phil,

Thanks! 

I'll definitely go with 16mm, but just to have how cool would a 35mm be!  At $200 or so a pop for the movies, I'd certainly have to have to turn my little hobby into a money maker.  Not ready to get that involved.  Yet. 

Jennifer,

I had seen some "new" (unused, anyway) government B&H projectors that have been outfitted with new worm gears and such.  Presumabley the stuff they kept in reserve incase of a nuclear war.

What do you think of soemthing like that instead of perhaps a superior, but very used elmo or something similar?

[madhousefilms]

Jennifer is right about the B&H projectors. Finiky is an understatement. The Elmo is a great PJ....I just don't have one...

I have a collection of old Laurel and Hardy and 3 Stooges as well as a copy of The Bride of Frankenstein. I tried getting a 16mm print of King Kong but I wasn't paying the price (2k.)  Though I think it would have been worth it but I think my son would rather I pay part of his tuition.

[WildeOscar]

I got a 16mm projector from my company surplus auction. ($20.00) It came with a few cheesey training flilms. I've probably spent about a hundred bucks total in the past 2 years buying old films. The PJ came with 2 extra bulbs. I figure if it ever gives out I haven't invested much in it. Like said, the smell of hot dust the whir of the reels.....makes for a fun experience.

[movieman]

Boy does this bring back memories. I started out with 8mm castle films and then moved to 16mm. One projector lead to two with change over system so feature films could be shown with out changing reels. Then came scope lenes. My first home theater was all 16mm with scope.l At one time I had over 300 hundres feature films and 50 cartoons, The first feature my wife bought me was The BLOB. We would stay up all night watching movies. Then came VHS!  It was like starting all over again. What a great time we had with 16mm.   I still have two projectors and a couple of films.   rg

[Star View Cinema]

At one time I had over 300 hundres feature films and 50 cartoons, The first feature my wife bought me was The BLOB.

OMG Movieman, 300 features including the Blob?! What did you do with all those films?

[movieman]

Some of the titles I transfered to 1" video tape (all of the cartoons-they were warner bros.) As a title came out on video I sold the film.  Then when DVD came along all the 1" was dub to DVD.  I still love film but with the audio on DVD it's the way to go. When 35mm went stereo they added the Mag stripe a long with the optical track. If that was done on 16mm it might have saved it. I'm an old theater buff and my history is in Hardtops and D-I's. So I spent a lot of time around film.   rg