Bell & Howell model 253 8MM projector

[electra225]

What an antique, right?

Again, I was bored since it is too hot to go to Tempe for the parts I need to finish my little record player project. I was digging thru boxes of stuff "I know I'll need this, SOMEDAY". This thing belonged to my wife's parents. We hadn't seen our old home movies for probably close to 40 years. I got this thing to the bench, plugged it in, and to my great amazement, it worked! The light came on, the drive system worked. I couldn't remember how to thread the film in the machine, so I had to Google that. Sure enough, there was actually an article on how to do that. On a 60+ year old movie projector! Instead of watching Perry Mason last evening, we watched old home movies, dated 1960 and 1961. The inlaws had their new 1960 Nash Rambler American wagon, bright red with a flathead six and overdrive. They drove that old heap for almost 20 years before the body rusted off. The father in law drove an almost new Dodge crewcab one ton truck for his lineman job. We watched two full reels of home movies. It was pretty cool for a change.

The old projector worked pretty well, considering its 40-year slumber. After it got well warmed up, the take-up reel got pretty funky and I had to help it when it started getting full. There must be a belt or something that drives that reel that is slipping or too loose or just plain too old to work anymore. I wonder two things. One, how to get it apart, and two, can I still buy parts for that thing. Anybody out there who has experience working on this kind of thing?

Edit. I got it apart. I found the problem with the drive on the take up wheel. Dried grease. Who would have "thunk" it? Now I need a light bulb. Model DFC, 125 volt, 150 watt. Ebay, here I come. Long obsolete, now big money. Ain't nostalgia fun?

[Ken Doyle]

I know that model projector, and it's built like a tank. Sadly, many 8mm movie projectors of that era used lamps that are extremely expensive to replace these days.

[Firedome]

We have a Kodak 8mm camera and projector bought in '77 when our oldest was born. Used about 2 years, maybe 4-5 reels of movies, not watched since a couple years after we took them, and she's 46 now! I should get it out and see what happens. Then get them xfrd to a thumb drive? Otherwise they'll likely never be seen again.

[electra225]

Boy, have I learned a lot about obsolete projector bulbs today. The model DFC bulb, fortunately, is one of the more popular projector bulbs there was. Used by Bell and Howell, GE some of the other manufacturers, it is used in more modern projectors than in our old antique. I found a place that sells retrofit kits that converts that expensive and short-lived original bulb to an easily-replaceable, currently manufactured Halogen bulb that is easily acquired. It has a 200-hour lifespan, versus 15 hours for the original bulb. The DFC model is still made off-shore, but they run well over $100 a copy. The place I mentioned also sells the drive belt for the model 253. You're right, Ken, this old thing is very well-built. I have most of the dried grease removed, ready for some more modern lube. The retrofit kit is $44.95, plus tax with free shipping, total $48.86. It's worth a shot. My wife had a ball seeing people on film long gone, her parents, grandparents, etc. And I've learned something and have gotten one more old, obsolete piece of equipment going again.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185607167606?h ... R9id382uYg

[electra225]

I moved this topic from "Chat" since what started out as a comment, has turned into a project.

There is only one drive belt in this contraption. The rest of the drive system is little wheels, all encased in dried grease, and lots of it. I'll try to get some pictures. The leading, or pulling wheel is the rear one and it has a series of four little gears that turn the wheel that "pulls" the film thru. There is a little slip clutch at the drive whose purpose it is to keep the film moving and tight, but not to pull on it. Set too loose, the film winds unevenly and may not fit the wheel. Set too tight, it will pull against the film. There is a plastic screw that you turn to adjust the slip clutch. This setting was too loose which is why I had to help the wheel when it got nearly full and harder to turn. All four of the little gears must come out and be cleaned, then relubed. The front one has two or three gears in it, I haven't had it apart yet, but it is shorter than the rear one. Other than the one main drive belt, everything is powered by gears. There is really not much to it. The drive is somewhat like is found in audio tape recorders.

[electra225]

I have it all cleaned and relubed, ready when the new bulb gets here. The rear assembly has four wheels, the front assembly has three wheels. I removed the gears, cleaned them of the old grease, then put on some Phono Lube. Same with the big gears. It really runs quietly now. When we get the light bulb where it works, this thing should be like new.

[19&41]

So Bell & Howell didn't always make cheap solar powered night lights... Fancy that!

[TC Chris]

I've got several old Revere 8mm projectors, a couple Kodaks, and a nice big 16mm Bell & Howell institutional model 3585 sound model that a school was giving away. It runs forward just fine but declines to rewind. It came with a couple extra bulbs, but the bulb issue is always a problem.

Would it make sense to make up a bucking-transformer device to lower the bulb voltage and prolong its life? I've read that a relatively small voltage reduction has a significant effect on bulb life. Let us know how the halogen conversion turns out.

Chris Campbell

[TC Chris]

Oh yeah, and the rubber-tire ash tray (likely used for another purpose now?) on your bench--I've got a Seiberling "All-Tread" model over in the cabinet, a junk-pile find from years ago. What brand is yours?

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Kelly-Springfield. I ran KS steering tires on my trucks.

[electra225]

I got the bulb retrofit kit in today's post. This is a very slick conversion. The instructions said you didn't have to do any drilling, but methinks this kit is not intended to retrofit a projector this old. Not only do the bolt holes not line up, but I had to drill the holes in the bracket out just a fuzz. This is a minor deviation from the instructions. Well worth the extra effort. On one hand, one can gripe because the instructions were not complete. On the other hand, a small extra effort saved this old projector from the scrap heap. Would I recommend this retrofit? You bet, a thousand times over. I saved the box the bulb came in since it has a phone number and a website where you can order the bulb. My only concern, long term, is that the bulb is halogen. Hologen bulbs put out a lot of heat. More than the original? Time will tell. The only wiring is to stick two wires in the socket where the original bulb went. Super simple. The whole project took about 10 minutes, including drilling time. If you have an old projector that uses a DFC bulb, this setup is really slick.

]

[William]

Is there a fan or blower to keep the bulb cool? I presume yes, but I did not see it in your photos.

Bill

[TC Chris]

Is there a fan or blower to keep the bulb cool? I presume yes, but I did not see it in your photos.

I had s slightly different cooling question. Most projectors have a fan (I do have a slide projector that is pure convection). But my question was whether cooling air can get around that new reflector that's art of the bulb assembly, so the bulb part can get cooled.

Sometimes the exact placement of the filament is crucial to projection brightness. But if it's not, and if the reflector isolates the bulb, maybe add some shims to create a gap around the reflector perimeter?

I can't recall if you gave source info for the conversion. If not, please do.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

There is a plastic fan that cools the bulb and it still works. It is mounted on the business end of the motor. The other end of the motor shaft has a little two-blade fan whose main purpose is scraping your knuckles when you run the projector with the cabinet off. I suppose its intended purpose is to cool the motor. Time will tell if the fan will still cool the replacement bulb. Or how hot this bulb will impact the movie film. I believe the plan now is to watch some more old home movies this evening. I'll know more after that. I got the kit on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185607167606?h ... R7a1_s-yYg

Address:
Reynolds
14 Knodishall Way
Hampton, VA 23664-1967

They give a link to installation instructions, although that is really unnecessary, particularly to those of us who work on old electronics.

Is anybody curious as to what that doodad with tubes was with no cabinet in one of the shots of the projector? It is my TV Analyst. I have it apart for a recap job.

Bill, if you look at the earlier pictures I posted, on page 1, you will see a black housing on the right side of the motor shaft. That black housing contains the plastic fan blade to cool the bulb.

[electra225]

The old projector with it's retrofit bulb passed its maiden voyage. The halogen bulb does put out considerable heat, but so did the original one. The fan takes care of it, so that's not an issue. The only issue we had was me trying to play a Super 8 movie. I now remember the difference in the two types. Super 8 had a larger hole in the reel and the little holes in the film that move the tape are closer together. You have to have a Super 8 projector to play Super 8 movies. I thought I had grandpa's Super 8 around here someplace, but its whereabouts remain unknown. I may be in the market for a Super 8 projector, as we have a lot of those movies. I also need to do more work on the take-up reel clutch. It slips, moves the wheel at an uneven speed, which, in turn, removes the lower loop in the film travel, which makes the picture jerky. I have no idea how to fix that, but that is my next move.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Nice Job !

[19&41]

Putting up the screen and turning on the projector in the darkened living room was always a pleasant experience at home. Seeing all the relatives here and gone, the old places, the trips, the fun times. Some folks groaned at the sight of a projector, but I've always found it to be a happy pleasant time.

[electra225]

I have been looking for a Super 8 projector. They want the BIG money for something so obsolete as a Super 8 projector. I am not going to pay $200 for one, including shipping. Our local Goodwill store has a model 346, which is basically the same age as the one here. It uses a JLL bulb, which the company I bought this bulb from also handles a retrofit kit for the JLL bulb, so that will not be an issue. The one I found at the Goodwill store that is marked $7 allegedly, and they have had it "for a long time". You're right, Rex. I don't know that I'd want a steady stream of old movies, but once every 40 years is not too often, I reckon. The fun to me is using obsolete technology just because I can.

[Firedome]

I need to get out our Kodak Super 8 projector & camera, in storage now 40 some years. Bought for our 1st kid, and shelved before #2 & 3 came. Wonder if they will work, assuming that like all old electronics they'll need a re-furb? We even still have the fancy pull-up screen with glass-particle coating for luminous imaging. I also like old tech, should be a fun project. Also found Dad's Kodak Carousel 800 projector and 14 80-slide trays with KodaChrome (using both Argus and Canon cameras) color slides of vacations and home life, 1956 to 1972, about 5 years ago, still works fine, and it was great to relive those golden times!

[electra225]

I've never worked with a Kodak, but it surely would be much like a Bell and Howell, at least as far as built quality is concerned. Really not much to one. A motor, a light, a switch, maybe a belt, at least one fan, and some gears with dried grease. A lot like working on a changer. The light bulb is the big deal as far as expense is concerned. For something as obsolete as 8MM film, why do they charge so much for the parts? Retrofits are available for Bell and Howell, so I think I'll stay with that brand.