My favourite is my Fumeo 9119 as it is manual threading and projects a steady image and is not fussy about film stocks.
I also like the 2500 feet spool capacity for those big shows.
The Optical sound is quite good too. Not so thin as the Elmo GS 1200.

Why did they originally make the reels of features 400ft, instead of 800ft; changing and rewinding 5 or even 6 can be tiresome.

Robert, could it be because some sound projectors only had the capacity for 400' reels? I just donated a Bell & Howell Filmosonic (marketed around 1977) that could only accommodate that size reel. I'm only guessing. I will have to look through my old Sears catalogs and see what the average capacity for those projectors were.

I had a hope for the GS-1200 Xenon, but it's been very picky. Now I use the ST-1200HD MO which seems less picky at least. And I love these because of the 1200' capacity

Are the Fumeo's stereo? That's why I wanted the GS-1200. Also have a Sankyo Stereo 800 and a GS-800 as stereo alternatives

I really like this one for my standard 8/silent viewing. It's the Bell & Howell 253 AX from about 1958 (I have added more pics in the B&H section). It is a manual thread machine and built very well. I have owned two of these, but the second one had to be junked due to a bad motor. Since this photo was taken, I have acquired the original 400' reel that would have come with the unit. My only quam is the expensive DFC/DFN bulb that it requires. I love the fact that it is manual thread and the film can easily be removed if a problem ever arises with film in it. I like the heavy duty toggle switch for powering it on too.[img][[File:B&H253AX 002.JPG|none|auto]][/img]

Robert in the "good old days" 400 feet spools on 8mm was considered to be the bees knees as the norm was 200 foot spools for 8mm.
Eumig then came up with 600 foot spool capacity.

Vidar there was some stereo Fumeos made also with Xenon lighting.

Hi Timothy I agree with you about the price of old projector lamps. Some prices are crazy for around 25 hours life.
I like that B&H because its a manual threader.

Hi Timothy Its a pity about the motor packing in on one of your projectors though.

Then that's my favorite projector ...Stereo Fumeo with Xenon sounds heavenly ... Now only to win a couple of millions to buy one :-)

Vidar you wont need millions to buy one. You will however have to find one first. They don't come up for sale that often.

If I had a million, I could make one come up :-)

I have both a Fumeo 9119 and a GS1200. I love the Fumeo for its manual threading and safe film path. My GS has dead on focus better then my Fumeo. Some times you have to go through several lens until you get a good one and I think that is the case with my Fumeo.

Focus problems can be caused by a number of things on Fumeo or Elmo or any other projector.
Most common is incorrect gate plate tension being slightly out of true. Another is that the better and faster lens
is always more critical of focus . For example if you have just upgraded from a 1:3 to a 1:1 you may find you are having to
adjust the focus more. Or it may be quite simply that the print is not so sharp anyway or the film stock is variable.

Vidar
I never realised you were a master Magician that could conjure up Fumeos at will when the finances allow.
You hold many secrets. hahahaha !!!

I remember when I got my first 400ft reel, I thought it was huge. I wondered why they never made the features 800ft reels,as16mm is 1600ft usually. You see some old bulbs priced at £75 each. Can't see anyone paying that

I just picked up a second Fumeo 9119. Looks like new , bought it off ebay it turned out the seller was Paul Foster.

Well done that man, you won't be disappointed with Fumeo, a world away from the Japanese projectors, made with longevity
in mind. Just take a look at the hefty motor inside, it could run a washing machine! Little chance of film wear with manual thread, and
loads of power from that amp, with "presence" control for different venues for optimum sound. A Schneider lens gives great picture quality, although I prefer a prime lens. Is this my favourite? Alas no, that accolade must go to my trusty Eumig Mark "S" std 8mm projectors, they are my first love, reliable and kind to film, ancient by todays standards, but they do the job.

If anyone want to swap a stereo 1200' minimum Fumeo for a GS-1200 Xenon, I'm in :-)

Alan that photo does more than answer the question. Good reply. hahaha !

Hugh... the Eumig Mark S Standard 8mm is still my projector of choice for Standard 8mm sound films. Yes limited light and sound but a great runner.
I cant stop wondering what a Fumeo Standard 8mm sound would have been like though.

My favourite projector I 'Owned' was a lovely Fuji SH 30, it has 1200' capacity, 15v 150w lamp, Optical playback, and mine had a lovely f1.1 lens, when it ran well, it was a dream, but their is a downside with this projector, the micro switches on the controls are a problem, they often wear out fast, and they are a pig to replace (so my service agent John White informed me), and getting a proper fitting main drive belt these days for this machine is really hard, so reluctantly I had to 'move' it on (if only they had done a twin track or Stereo version). I still wish I had kept it, but I bet we all could say that at one time or another about machines we've parted with.

I second that one Barry . I always wanted a Fuji SH30 more so than an Elmo GS1200. Never got one tough. Still parts are getting to be
a problem with most machines these days.

I only have one Super 8 projector, a Eumig 810D which I bought new in 1975. I was getting tired of making and watching films without sound; original silents were Ok, but it was the digests with subtitles. It was used almost daily throughout the 70s and 80s. Very good with film; one of the reasons I bought it, as I knew that brand had a good name. The only downside is that when watching silent films, the soundhead still comes into contact with the film, and this caused it to wear. I did try cleaning it with a tape head cleaner and also de-magnetising it, but to no effect. A replacement cost me around £100 from Johnsons of Hendon. So I have been reluctant to show any silent films since. They probably improved on this in a later model. A friend of mine bought a Eumig, it was a cheaper model, 806 I think, and the soundhead was still in contact with the film in reverse.