Formats
| Format | Typical machines | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 8 | Eumig, Bolex, Bell & Howell | Plentiful. Parts mostly available |
| Super 8 | Eumig, Elmo, Sankyo, Chinon | The bulk of the work. Belts and grease, usually |
| Dual 8 | Eumig mainly | Two gates, twice the alignment |
| 16mm | Bell & Howell, Eiki, Elf | Heavy, well built, and the ones schools kept |
| Slide projectors | Kodak Carousel, Leitz, Rollei | Usually a jammed tray mechanism or a dead fan |
| 9.5mm | Pathé | Occasionally. Parts are a real problem |
What I don't take
- 35mm cinema projectors. Wrong scale, wrong premises, and properly specialist.
- Video projectors of any kind.
- Cameras. Different trade again.
Before you send
- Take the film out. Every time — I've received three machines with film still threaded and one of them had been posted from Aberdeen.
- Remove the lamp if it's loose in its holder, and wrap it separately.
- Note what it does and doesn't do. "Doesn't work" is a lot less useful than "hums but won't turn".
- Pack the reel arms separately. They snap in transit more than anything else.
Sending
Double-box it if you can and use a tracked service. A projector is heavier than it looks and couriers treat them accordingly. I photograph everything on arrival and email you before starting.