Rodney Pellegrini

Thank you all so much for your replies! I have ordered some watch oil and will see how it works out. Rod

Hello all, I'm wondering how often a Bell & Howell Filmo camera should be oiled. I suspect that like everything else, it depends on use, but humor me :) Do you put oil in your camera every 1,000 feet of film or something like that? Secondly, and most importantly, I have no idea what type and brand of oil I should put in my Filmo, nor where to buy it, or what the ballpark cost of a bottle is. Nor the standard volume per bottle. Any and all info you could provide would be much appreciated. I'm new at this (new student), and want to take proper care of my equipment. The local photo shop seems to know very little outside still photography, and they're pushing the digital stuff with passion. Thanks in advance, Rod

Charlie, My wanting to modify my DA to shoot single perf. film is really just a preventive strike. Now that Kodak isn't making any more double perf, and because I have two DAs, I figured that if the conversion was a simple matter I could chance it with one. I will likely keep shooting double perf as long as I can find it (and it isn't so old it might not work). I'm very new at this, and it's something I'm doing more out of interest than anything else (It's more of a hobby for me, and I've no professional expectations at present--maybe after I learn some more... I digress, though). Thank you very much for relating your experience trying to do this. I'll probably just hold on to the parts I'll get from Derek until I feel a little more confident taking the camera apart. I've hopes it will work if the parts are compatible--I wouldn't be filing down the sprockets and extra claw, but replacing them with their counterparts from a single perf model. Maybe I will just save some money and get a later model on eBay when double perf stock becomes prohibitively expensive. Thanks again for your input, I really appreciate you taking the time to write it. Rod

Derek, Thanks for taking the time. Do you also have the claw in there? I can't tell from the pictures. I'll send you a PM with my e-mail to discuss further. Thanks again! Rod

Yup, I double checked and it's a 70 DA, not DR. Let me know, and thanks

I have a Bell & Howell Filmo 70DR and am considering modifying it so it shoots single perforated 16mm film. Does anyone here know how difficult or easy it is to remove the upper sprockets and claw? Will I need any extra parts to replace what I take out? I don't know if the claw is composed of a single, solid part with two claws, or if it can be separated into upper and lower claws. I've no experience taking cameras apart, so keep that in mind. How badly can I screw the camera up if I mess with it? Should I send it to a lab instead of trying this myself? Where? Any idea how much that costs?Also, will the camera be able to handle the single perf. film without loosing the loops after this "home-made" conversion? Thanks for any and all help you may provide, Rod

You might try film emporium ( http://www.filmemporium.com/ ). I called them, and they found some double perf. film for me that only came in 400', but for an extra flat lab fee ($10) they said they'd put it into 100' spools for me. Perhaps they could work with you and splice together a 1200 foot magazine from their smaller footage loads? That is if they don't have the larger load (I haven't looked, and for all I know they might offer the 1200' mag). It may be worth a look or call. Rod

Thank you all for your help and feedback! Rod

I've recently aquired a nice, working, 1920's Bell & Howell filmo 70, and would like to shoot some footage with it. To my surprise when I tried loading it last night, unlike the 40's filmos it will not shoot single perf. film! So I'm on a quest for affordable, B&W 16mm, double perf. stock. Does anyone here have any ideas? Rod