HEURTIER 8MM

Heurtier PS8

I have before me 2 rather different Heurtier PS8 machines. On these, the front opens with a simple catch, then hinges up to sit on top of the main body. The arms slide forward in slots to align with the film path. All this time, the spring belts remain in place, so there is much twanging and boinging. When the machine is closed, the belts lie along the top of the unit, with plastic sprung covers over them. Another odd feature us that the back of the projector has a circular disc set into it. This is spring-loaded; a press and turn makes it pop out by about 2cm, revealing a 360 degree circular slot thru which the power cable is wound onto a core. The circular thingy doesn't move; you wind the cable on by hand. Both machines had bare wires when received, but there is no way you can close the thing up again with the wire still poking out. There has to be, therefore, a plug (2-pin only, incidentally) that will fit into the narrow slot available, which is only about 1 cm or so. I managed to find just one plug that could be pushed in, and I have plenty to try. Thin plugs would be gratefully received. NB that blank circle inside the raised lid should contain the operating instructions, shown separately below.

                    

The differences start with the colour scheme. One, which I assume to be the earlier, is in pale blue/grey enamel, the other a scruffy silver Hammerite-type hammered finish. I assume the blue one is earlier because it has a lamp I have never met before, 10v 100w, standard small incandescent in appearance, but with a mini-reflector behind the filament. The base is 3-pin twist-and-lock like some exciter lamps and like the lamp in the other machine, which is a standard 8v 50w Mae West.

The blue machine seems to have had some mods. It has a 2-pin outlet (original) on the back, labelled Sync (although someone has disconnected the two wires), and there appears to be provision for a mechanical link from the rear of the projector main shaft. Less standard are the addition of a Dim-Off-Bright toggle switch for the lamp, below and in front of the lens. Another, slider, switch has been added in front of the reverse/forward slider switch. The function of this is unclear to me since all it seems to provide is an additional on-off for the motor.

The shape of the machine from the operating slide is a bit like the Eumig P8, (irritatingly, the lens barrel is just 1mm greater in diameter then the P8) and also a bit like a shoe. It has an unusual drive which is semi-exposed at the rear of the machine. It was not keen on a tight belt; I found a very flexible one which it liked much better. The machines are amazingly compact when folded, just 9" x 9" x 6", with no odd bits or arms sticking out. I begin to think that the last days of Std 8 silent saw some of the best projectors.