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Topic: 70MM Unsteadiness
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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!
Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-17-2007 03:15 AM
As usual, Mark is dispensing bad advise for Strong products. The Simplex 35/70 parts are not that tough to come by as they are virtually identical to the standard parts...which is actually one of the Simplex's weaknesses. It is a standard Simplex 35 with a bunch of spacers! As such, there are very few specific parts to the machine except things like sprockets and the 70mm gate parts.
A move to a JJ would not not alieviate a parts problem either because Strong would discontinue JJ parts as fast as Simplex 35/70 parts. I also dispute that the Simplex 35/70 has damaged more 70mm film than all others...the JJ most likely holds that title. The earlier upper loop stabilizer had a reinforcing rib that would scratch the film in the picture area, the infamous "JJ Scracthes" caused by leaving the 35mm pad roller in on the upper feed has caused countless scratches, the lower loop stabilizer has also contributed many a racing stripe in the middle of a 35mm image (way too narrow a relief in the RO-207 if the film has any curl to it). The there are the guides in the R50 soundhead that, if not properly set will also allow the face of the 70mm film to rub. Can a JJ be made to run scratch-free, sure but in terms of historical damage, they are way up there.
The Simplex 35/70 is not known for inherently damaging film but it is known for being particularly filmsy and with some of the poorest designs of the 70mm machines. The lack of proper 70mm width components, the Penthouse that is not properly spring balanced, and the intermittent shoe, which relates to the lack of proper 70mm width components that will rub tracks 2 and 5 down.
The penthouse is much maligned for not being driven...that really isn't that big an issue. Look at all of the digital penthouses...none are driven. The problem with the Simplex 35/70 (or at least the Strong version) is that they forgot to put in a spring to offset the effects of gravity on the tension rollers...thus they tend to sink to the bottom of their travel. The other BIG goof was the lack of head shields (both tongue and full shield) which allowed hums to come in from many sources...including its own changeover coil. Century also stopped including the full head shield, which was a mistake.
Steve
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