This is topic The worst reel design of all time in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-09-2017, 02:00 PM:
 
I've seen a LOT of bad reel designs over the years, but I think this one takes the cake.

I'm sure even halfway decent projectionists knows not to wind film onto a reel if it isn't clean of dust and dirt. I'm also sure everyone here has had to get a rag of some sort and wipe clean the flanges of a reel before they wound film onto it just from general dust collection.

As anyone who used the WB/New Line ELRs (Extended Length Reels) from about 15 years ago knows that while the outside flange of those reels was semi-solid and relatively easy to wipe clean, the inside flange of those had a waffle design which was a dirt trap and was absurdly difficult to clean once any dust collected in there.

And then today a friend sends me this nightmare design of a reel. What ass came up with this?

Sadly I'm noticing the center hub of this reel has EXACTLY the same design as the standard 6k (24 inch) Cinemeccannica reel, so I have a feeling this is an actual Cinemeccannica reel!

Has anyone ever seen a worse design?


 

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Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 06-09-2017, 02:05 PM:
 
It looks like they took two sides of a house fan and attached them together to make a reel.

To further illustrate my point, look at the screws in the middle of the reel. They look like something bought from the store. Are they all the same size?
 

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Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 7758) on 06-09-2017, 02:16 PM:
 
If it were cut square and a thin layer of material were added, it would make a heck of an air filter.
 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 06-09-2017, 02:47 PM:
 
I have a friend who has one of those official Cinemeccanica reels. I believe, but not sure, that they require the European 9mm spindle center.
 

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Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 06-09-2017, 02:56 PM:
 
The only worse design was the square reels they must
have made to fit the old Powers Cameragraph projectors:



 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-09-2017, 03:30 PM:
 
The only logic I can see with making a reel full of waffle holes is bean counter logic. It doesn't take as much material to mold or cast something like that as opposed to something more solid. Those reels do look like they would be great at catching dust. I'll bet they also cause more wear and tear to the edges of film.
 

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Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 06-09-2017, 05:04 PM:
 
What about shipping weight, or ease of seeing how much film is on the reel?

Neither of those reasons is particularly compelling, though.

The prettiest reel that I ever saw came in a can from Technocolor as part of a feature played at one time. It was made of stainless steel, was super-shiny and the sides were molded or cut into a pattern that was really amazing. When I saw it I thought this reel is a work of art, and I still do. It looked brand new and I've never seen another one like it again.

The only thing wrong with it was that the hole where the drive pin goes was located in a non-standard position and I had to do something to my make-up table to allow the pin to engage the reel. I can't remember exactly what I did, though. Bent a coat hanger to make my own drive pin at a different location, maybe.

But the reel itself was beautiful.
 

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Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 06-09-2017, 09:32 PM:
 
A reason to do the "Waffle" or "Honey Comb" is to create stability and reduce warping of the large surfaces. The reel needs to be light to reduce inertia on start up while it is empty. There does not appear to be a slip mechanism to allow the flanges to rotate freely on starting the machine.
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 06-09-2017, 10:14 PM:
 
If one of those becomes gross and disgusting from extended storage in a dusty atmosphere, about the only way you'd be able to get it properly clean is full immersion in a swimming pool. Even a high pressure hose would likely miss some surfaces.
 

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Posted by Rex Oliver (Member # 7593) on 06-10-2017, 12:32 AM:
 
Can agree--what a dumb design-yes looks like a fan grill.Guess the only way to clean the dust off these is not with a cloth-but the dust brush on a vacuum cleaner.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-10-2017, 11:14 AM:
 
Agreed! But the Cinerama reels leaning just to the left are awesome!

Mark
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-10-2017, 11:20 AM:
 

quote: Rex Oliver

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Guess the only way to clean the dust off these is not with a cloth-but the dust brush on a vacuum cleaner.

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