Saw Ben Hur "later Derann print" for sale on the other site so PM'd the seller just to make sure it was in english stereo (I have reel 1 of this and it looks and sounds fantastic) only to be told it isn't Derann it is now a Kemski print and it is mono, what's that all about, only had 2 postings as well

The Kempski prints are still very very good though Del and Derann purchased all of their negatives so technically, unless the owner purchased this film from new, it would be difficult to know which of the two it was, I would have thought.

As for the stereo aspect, you now have just the right machine to bring this about for yourself now on this, or indeed any other film with a decent balance stripe attached to it!

Thanks Andrew, as I say I have reel 1 of this from Derann in stereo and it is fantastic, wanted the whole feature.

But this was the whole feature wasn't it Del?

I honestly don't think there would be any difference apart from the recording aspect.

From what I remember Dell, Ben Hur along with mutiny on the bounty and others were all origionaly Kemski prints, he was a pioneer of these epics in scope and had the negatives made which Derann purchased from him when he gave up, I think they were all pretty good prints, pity about the mono sound, not certain if any Kemski prints were in stereo, would be a massive task re recording a film of that length.

Great advice, I'll have a think about it this morning and PM him later, thanks Andrew, thanks Bill.

I am in the middle of the 6x 600ft Hello Dolly Bill, and if you take it one reel at a time, it's not such a mammoth task, i'd say.
It's certainly doable in a week, at a leisurely pace, including going over certain sections again if it isn't quite right in parts,so long as you are already familiar with the task ahead.

My Poltergeist films are in stereo, or at least one is, but i am not certain whether these were purchased new as Kempski or Derann prints??

When Derek bought the Kempski negs, he got Keith Wilton's help in getting the Stereo track together, as Kempski only released in Mono.

I did re record my print of Ben Hur Andrew along with Bounty, I seem to remember there were several reel changes and other places it would lose sync, takes a bit of time preparing, I do not have the patience or time nowadays, although I have just made myself a pulse sync box adjustable front 10fps up to 30fps, with digital readout, I built this to re record a few Popeye cartoons from a NTSC DVD.

Thanks Barry! I guess that answers where my two came from then, or at least one of them. They are both still the original recordings.
You can always tell as the recording level tends to be far lower than optimum 0db in the loudest sections.

Anyone who records these again, tends to get it spot on or ends up with distortion where they have been aiming too high, I've found with the prints I've received already recorded into Stereo or another language altogether.

I wouldn't mind you building me one of those Bill for the Beaulieu and the Bauer to save a little time for me. With the internal motor controlling board for each. This would allow the Beaulieu to work for my optical film viewings.
Even a circuit diagram of each would be brilliant! Just like 8008 Pedro Box!!

I never attempt to record anything blip free in one run myself. I often have to "pick up" where a scene can be fractionally different, but with time and patience, all can be mastered I've found, so long as the stripe permits.

That is beauty of the Bauer in my book, it's just great for taking films backwards and forwards without risk of any damage.

The guy sold it behind my back, I was first to PM him and tell him I wanted to buy it too, not happy

Not great Del!

I always thought there was an understanding on forums that if you got in there first you had first refusal, but it seems not any more, not happy. Mind you a good gent called Tony has offered me the chance to purchase his copy so all's well in the end I suppose.

There is a difference between Kempski's and Derann's " Ben Hur" feature releases, I have had both, I still have the original Kempski print, it came from Deranns Film Library when they ceased film hire, even with the odd mark, it is a better print than Derann's, the colour is paler, but contrast is perfect, not so on the Derann's own release, the colour was lovely, but shadow detail was lost by excessive contrast, which is why I traded this copy in, retaining the ex library print as the better copy. I totally agree on Del's comments
on selling on forum's, it is a policy I stand by, first one past the post, I had a "problem" once when I sold "Silence of the Lambs", where
one poor guy was convinced he had been first, to show him I was being fair, I printed off the emails and sent him them.

Thanks Hugh, to be honest I've got over it, life's too short plus I am talking to another collector about his print. I have the Derann reel 1 of this and it is stunning so if the Kempski print is even better then wow it must be good.

Hi Del, colour is "colder" on the Kempski print, not as good as "Fall of the Roman Empire", but it was the contrast that turned it for me,
even though the colour was very rich, shadow was very black, no detail on dark scenes, on Derann's print, but it might be better on other prints, anyway,
I'm pleased you got sorted with a print, you'll enjoy it non-the-less, regardless of which print it is.

The other print I was offered was a no go, not Derann or Kemski and was flat and mono so left it.

The box sounds great bill, if you are building any more, put me down for one too, very useful bit of kit that sounds.

Thanks for the interest in the pulse box Paul and Andrew, there should be some photos of the prototype (I hope)
I was intending to make a few for sale, but with my health the way it is this may not come about, if I decide not to make any more I will publish a diagram, it should be easy to make, making the prototype was a different story, it took ages, the only issue I have now is that I used a cheap frequency meter (from china) it is not 100% accurate, for 25fps I have to set it to 24.9 luckily for NTSC if I set it to 23.9fps it is actually giving out 23.97 which seems to be correct for NTSC, none of this is a problem as long as one is aware of it, but a more accurate meter with an extra digit would be better, there is a separate phono pulse out on the back, the lead you can see is for a GS1200.
Can only manage one photo, for some reason any more do not show, it just duplicates the first image, why is it adding photos to forums is such a pain.

Sorry to hear your not feeling very well Bill, were not getting any younger. I don't mind a challenge of putting the little box together with your
detailed diagrams and advice. There's no rush, whenever your ready to go on it, no problem. Its great you have shared it with us first on our little forum
thank you for that, and take care.

Hi Del, I'd imagine the print you're speaking of is the 8x400' flat slightly cut feature of Ben Hur, I've had it twice before, the first copy
I bought was water damaged, the second was beautiful. It is a decent print, colours were vivid with belting sound, even though mono,
I very seldom use stereo, it involves the GS, so mono it is. No doubt if it is from Tony, it'll be in great condition. A great film whatever
version is viewed.

Your right of course Hugh, what I like about Tony is his honesty, I'll pass on the flat version though and wait for a scope print, loving watching anything scope these days, might just look for a 3 x400" in good nick for now just while I'm waiting

Hope your feeling a bit better Bill, I watched a couple of bit's through the Bauer last night and WOW and double WOW, what a picture and what cracking sound. You've done an amazing job and really can't thank you enough, your a true Gent.

P.S. put me down for a sync box too

Bill is to my mind, "Dr Who, Mr Spock and Yoda", the impact this very quiet man has made to users of projectors etc must be
immense, I really appreciate skills beyond my ken, I struggle with solder. Keep yourself well Bill, take care.