I've always fancied a Sankyo 800. All the ones i find are either a bit over priced or looked a bit rough.
This one came along which is obviously a Japanese model, however, it was priced fairly all be it, with the standard 1.4 lens, rather than the decent Sankyo Hi-Pro Zoom f=15-30mm 1:1.0 lens so i am on the look out for one.
Today i got this one out and gave it all a good clean up, the machine has been stored well by the looks of it as there is no mould or damage to any of the cases or feet.
Everything spins freely but i did remove the old grease from the from and rear worn gears. There is a centre worm which i cannot access, using a long cotton bud it dabbed it to see what the grease looks like, fortunately, it appears to be fine, not gooey or gunged at all, i dont wish to start dismantling things to clean hidden parts, i learned that lesson the hard way a few years ago. Re-greasing and re-lubricating the obvious was straight forward. As yet i have started it up but i will come back once i have.
This model compared to the 800 is an optical and magnetic version so hopefully i have now completed my projector requirement's.

Nice Tom, I like the VU meters on these compared to the 800s light level meters, these are a lot less common and great machines, the better lens is a plus point too if you can find one, the standard lens is pretty good though, good solid machines, Mark

Thanks Mark, it's a heavy little thing too, very solid machine.

I'd be interested to hear what the optical sound was like on it Tom, the one I've seen in action had very nice clear sound, they are compact machines so to get the optical option too is quite a feat, Mark

As it happens Mark, i got shot of all my optical sound films years ago. The sound quality on the optical projectors i had, (namely the 1200HD) were never up to much. To much in the way of hiss over film volume.
If i can find a 200ft short optical film i will, it'll be interesting to see how it sounds.

The ST1200 has very good optical sound when they are are set up properly or have the original factory set up with electronics that are still in tolerance with the original settings, when they start to break down the sound is quickly compromised, usual capacitor issues will stop optical completely as it has on a few machines I own ,it's the usual story though that when it's working they do give excellent results, the ST has better optical than any GS I've had, it would be interesting if the Sankyo will have kept it's electronics in tact, as with any machine putting a current through unused parts could stop them working, hopefully not.

I remember you mentioning your disappointment with the HDs lack of good optical sound hence getting rid of the films, they can be a bit hit and miss like the machines, finding unfaded prints is a challenge but get the combination right and you have a great image too, Mark

I think i was just unlucky. I had the projector for many years before i bought any optical films, when i did i found the sound to be of poor quality. Because i only had the one machine with optical sound, i never gave it a thought that it may have been faulty. In the end, due to only having a small handful of films i didn't think it worth perusing, both the other two HD's we have are magnetic only. This is the first time i've had another optical projector which is just a bonus really, but i will find a short optical to try it on.

I've seen the sankyo 800 stereo machine a few times, but never seen this model before, perhaps just for there own market i guess, so this is one up from the 800, well done tom for finding that, you seem to have a knack for finding these bargains, my bet is it will all work fine once you get it up and running, i like the v u 's better if i'm honest, very retro looking.............

Thank you Paul,
It is a nice looking machine and all being well, should keep me going along with the trusty HDs. The Eumigs are still play toys for me at present time, so fiddly to work on and still not quite right, (but both running), but this one will now take priority as i know these are decent quality machines. It's a pity that like the Bauers, they never went on a bit longer to produce a 1200ft spool capacity machine.

Tom,

I have never heard of the 880 model, only the 800. I would like to find a Sankyo 800 at some point. Please keep us posted as you get this one in operation.

I will Greg, it'll be as month or two before i finally fire it up.
As i understand it, the UK & US version if this is the 800, very similar, the OMS is magnetic and optical sound. I only bought it as it was offered to me by a mate, a very low price and a one of obviously but i didn't expect it to be this clean.

Great find there, Tom! Looks like a great machine!

I would have loved to add some of your pictures to S8DB:
https://super8database.com/projectors/892

You have some great mates Tom, thats for sure ........

I am lucky Paul, pure luck though, right place right time.

Eivind, feel free if they are of use.

Thanks, Tom!