Steenbeck motor issue

[Benjamin Mampey]

Hi everyone, I'm working for the National Center of Audiovisual in Luxembourg (CNA) and we have a Steebeck ST2500.
The problem is that the table seems to have a pedal (which is not there anymore) and we wanted to know if it was possible to install a more modern variable-speed drive. The goal is to use this little table as an editing table by lowering or accelerating the motor.
Do you think it may be possible ?

I attached the information about the table, let me know if you may need more informations

Thank you !

[Leo Enticknap]

Steenbeck may be still in business: its website claims that it had a presence at a film festival this year, although its Wikipedia page claims that the company went out of business in 2024. Yet another site, this one USA-based, claims that Steenbeck was bought by MWA-Nova. Hopefully these might give you some leads. The American site appears to be selling new parts, including an aftermarket, improved speed regulator board.

[Benjamin Mampey]

We already called them, but they said that it was "too complicated, too old, and with too much electrical systems inside" which is false, the table is mostly empty inside and have a very basic electrical system
So we don't know what to do

[Stefan Scholz]

This one is rather old. The motor in the image, 5k rpm max, is no induction motor. Should be a universal series connected motor. The pedal, if I remember right on my very old Steenbek, was a simple resistor network connected in series, with foot operated bridging switches, similar to a sewing machine pedal of the time. Just it was rated for higher currents. The motor is 140 Watts, a sewing machine for home use had 70 Watts. Most simple way is to connect a phase cutout control (lighting dimmer), which will have the same effect.

Just a little understanding on history: Steenbek bankrupted in the 1980's. The name then was bought by a Dutch dealer, keeping service for a lot of year, before they quit in 2024.

When going into electronics, I was working for an engineering company that had developed and made their electronics and controls.
They just had the mechanical parts manufactured and assembled the complete machine in Hamburg Hamm.
In 1982 my boss invited the CEOs of Steenbek, when he returned from a photo cinema trade fair, bringing a set of Sony U matic VTRs and an electronic editing panel with him. He told the heads, that he feels, this will be the future, editing on video, and then cutting negatives accordingly. Or for TV use, tape the film content, and edit your program in the electronic domain, then broadcast from tape.
The heads of Steenbek only answered, people will always edit on film, the demand for their production will not diminish. No need to develop an electronic editing system.

Well, they made around 100 units in 1981, soon the demand lowered to 10 units in a month, and later 10 units per quarter year. Followed by full bankruptcy a couple of years later.
An great example being reluctant when it comes to adapt future technologies.

To contact the people currently owning the trademark, is like contacting your Ford dealership or Ford Motor Corporation customer support, and ask a technical question about their 1964 Mustang.

[Leo Enticknap]

Thanks Stefan. There appears to be quite a bit of contradictory information on the net as to both what happened to the original company, and the rights to the name/trademark. It would make sense if MWA-Nova eventually bought the latter, as they make a directly competing product. Given its simpler and sprocketless film path, and the fact that a single machine gives you everything from regular 8 to 35mm, it is more suitable than a Steenbeck for viewing archival elements anyways; added to which, MWA-Nova has been around for a very long time - it's not a startup that is likely to disappear. I bought their oriiginal standard definition FlashScan when I worked in archiving in the early '00s, and they were an established name even then. Admittedly, going that route would likely be a bigger investment than trying to resurrect a decades old Steenbeck. But to borrow your analogy, you would take a big reliability hit trying to use a 1964 Mustang for your daily commute.

Though not as dramatic as your example, I did recently go to the local Toyota dealer in search of a replacement for the failed ignition switch in my father in law's 1991 Pickup, and they had one in stock!

[Stefan Scholz]

Leo, literally only an example given. 2 generations after technology was made, there are a few mechanics that understand classic technology.
MWA (Maschinenbau Wilhelm Albrecht of Berlin, if I remember right) was a leading manufacturer of film related editing and studio products. A standard in mag dubbers in Europe. Very nice machines.
They also had to undergo a rough challenge to keep in business.
The original company, afair, also did not make it, but by new owner and new products the name managed to stay, as well as great machines.
I like their compact scan/ preview machine. As you said, can be adapted to any film format, does a great job, and can output digital files from single frame to compressed streams. I'd love to own one, but face a 100 grand price tag, not a machine for "hobby use", it vwould have to earn money.

[Benjamin Mampey]

Thanks for the information about the resistor network, It seems to work now, I need to make a few adjustments but I'm able to slow it
Thanks !