Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Christie Brain Scratch Mystery

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Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-03-2007, 02:11 PM:

Last night I received a complaint that Mr Brooks was scratched. When I went to investigate it, I found nothing off roller or out of path. The print looked severely scratched, 2 or 3 base side scratches and one emulsion side scratch. I figured it must have happened on a previous show, however when the show let out, what a found on the brain surprised me.

What is this? It looks like a string of emulsion leading from the bone to the two small guides near the rollers.

This is on an older style AW3.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-03-2007, 05:49 PM:

The only thing that could cause scratching in a Christie brain is if the film is not seated properly between the two white fixed stripper poles. However that is almost impossible given the picture you showed since you have the new style poles in there that have a gentle tapering to them as opposed to a squared off edge.

Posted by Alex Grueneberg (Member # 2652) on 06-03-2007, 07:04 PM:

I had some metallic cue tape get stuck on one of the posts once, but it only caused a minor base scratch. How long has the print been running on that platter/brain? I must say that is very odd.

ps: your brain looks super clean [Smile]

Posted by Brian Guckian (Member # 1678) on 06-03-2007, 08:09 PM:

It's a long shot, but could there be a groove cut into the inside edge of one of the "bone" posts? I've seen this happen before on the AW3. Over time, the film can cut a groove into the post and end up sitting into that groove every time the film is run.

Ultimately, you can end up stripping the emulsion at the edges, and the film can hop into and out of the groove depending on how the platter timing is set up. Although I've never seen it, perhaps that could account for the scratching as the film rubs against the burred plastic of the groove.

However you don't mention seeing a groove; usually it should be noticeable, so it's likely there's another explanation.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-04-2007, 11:40 AM:

quote: Alex Grueneberg
ps: your brain looks super clean

You apparently don't know Mike very well. [Razz]