COMPLETE RESTORATION OF A BRAUN VISACUSTIC 1000 STEREO PROJECTOR BY RENZO DAL BO

(Text, photos and videos by Renzo dal Bo)

Shortly before the Christmas holidays I received a desperate case from my friend Mauro Coscia: a Braun Visacustic 1000 p(rojector that had previously suffered serious damage, likely due to careless transport by the courier.

Mauro's request was to evaluate the possibility of recovery and, if necessary, a complete overhaul. However, several other problems emerged during the restoration, making it a typical case demonstrating the commitment required to bring machines, over 40 years old, back to life.In the following sequence of images and videos, I illustrate all the main phases, which required more than two full days of work, but with the full satisfaction of a successful final result.

The rewind reel shaft was bent and some plastic pieces of the clutch were broken.

The rest of the mechanics seemed in order though.

To disassemble the bent shaft, it was necessary to use the force of the hammer.

Luckily, I had all the parts I needed to replace, not only the shaft, but the entire rewind arm assembly.

This is the comparison of the two details, with the shaft no longer reusable.

I also had to replace the back cover.
However, I had a different back cover model available.
Some slight modifications were made during the production of the Visacustic projectors. Over time, two small screws were added to the top to better secure the back cover to the projector frame.
To fit the replacement back cover, which required two screws, I also had to drill and tap two small holes in the frame.

After installing the new arm, I checked that the clutch assembly works properly and that it disengages when the film is reversed.

It was time to try starting the projector, but another surprise awaited. Although the motor started, the projector's mechanisms remained stationary, indicating that the rubber belt was slipping on the motor pulley and needed to be replaced.
A very positive feature of the Visacustic series projectors is that replacing the belt is simple and can be done with a Phillips screwdriver, in less than five minutes.

After changing the motor belt, the projector started normally but reported a movement irregularity, a sign that some mechanical parts, typically a gear, needed replacing.

The original gear with plastic teeth showed small radial cracks and required replacement with a new one.

The imperceptible crack seen up close.

After a complete overhaul of the moving parts, including cleaning and lubrication with new grease, the projector finally ran properly at all speeds.

Then it was the time to check the electronics related to the sound, and another typical problem, that can afflict Visacustic projectors, occurred: a pulsating sound coming from the amplifier, due to the loss of some electrolytic capacitors. To resolve this problem, it is necessary to disassemble the sound board located at the base of the projector.
Since many parts must be disassembled to reach it, it is advisable to replace not only the electrolytic capacitors causing this defect, but also, as a precaution, others that can, over time, cause other problems such as lack of sound, the motor not starting, or a blown fuse among the many fuses this projector comes with

The difficulty of reaching some components in a crowded electronics system in a small space requires great care. Extreme caution must be exercised when handling the board to avoid interrupting any of the connections of the many soldered wires extending from the board itself.

I also replaced the double-sided adhesive on the plug holder that goes to the magnetic head.
Over time, the foam part flakes off, and the holder comes off the multi-pin plug.

Before reassembling the sound card, it is necessary to remove and replace the old conductive thermal paste, which allows the heat produced by the power transistors to disperse.

The sound card was reassembled in its original position, making sure that all connections were correct.

The power and motor control board also has a heat sink, which requires new thermal conductive paste.

Once all the connectors are in place, the cables must be arranged so that they do not interfere with the moving parts.

For this purpose, cable ties are used to secure all the cables.
Note the gem: I used the original design ones.

Finally, the time has come to check whether the extensive work on the electronics has paid off.
Indeed, the amplifier's pulsating noise has disappeared.
Bingo!

Using the microphone originally supplied with the projector, I checked that the first channel's output was working correctly.

I repeated the same operation for the second channel.

Having made sure that all the functions are present and working correctly, I moved on to regulating, using the strobe light, all four speeds that the projector is equipped with.

The most exciting and anticipatory moment: the first test with sound film.
It seems to have been successfully completed.

It's time to reassemble all the plastic parts that make up the projector's outer casing, after thoroughly cleaning them, of course.
Aesthetics are also important...

The back side, with all the sockets.

The front side, with the 1.1 lens.

The opposite side with the knob for manual advance.

And finally the main side with all the controls.

Final test screening a sound film.
Unfortunately, the cell phone footage doesn't do justice to the brightness and stability of this projector's image.
I hope the effort to restore this machine to full efficiency is rewarded by the owner's satisfaction.

WHICH SUPER-8 PROJECTORS TO BUY? REAR SPRUNG PRESSURE PLATE MACHINES (Part 6 of 10)

 

WHEN THE  GERMAN ENGINEERING MARKS THE POINT: REAR SPRUNG PRESSURE PLATE.

Only a handful of sound Super-8 projectors were made with a great German idea: the rear sprung pressure plate, in the lamp side. This allows to project films of different thickness (polyester with triacetate, Ektachrome 100 with Provia 400, camera originals with print positives), without the need to adjust the focus during projection, as this arrangement allows the distance between the emulsion and the lens to be constant regardless of the film thickness. All motion pictures projectors should have been manufactured in this way.

Which model has rear sprung plate combined with a swing open type lens holder, together with a first class lens? The one chosen by Steve Jobs for his London house and sold to him by Lee Cameras, the Braun Visacustic 2000, possibly the most elegant machine of all. 

This lovely jewel of German technology  can project at 16 2/3, 18, 24 and 25 frames per second (with fine adjustment of plus / minus 1 frame), stereophonic sound, digital LED counter with LED and 150 W  lamp.

The Visacustic 2000 Digital has other features: 1) it can be synchronized with other devices, as DVDs; and 2) the pull down moviment  is so fast that it is able to get more light on the screen with a 150 W lamp, cheap and easy to find, than others with 200 W.

All Braun Visacustic 2000 projectors offer a very sharp and flat picture on screen. This is not only due to the rear sprung pressure plate but also that in the Braun factory, when they received from Schneider each batch of the famous f 1.1 11-30 mm zoom, they checked each lens individually: a third of each shipment was returned (and, perhaps, mounted on other brands?). 

Another interesting point of the Braun Visacustic 2000 is that the projector itself it is placed on a loudspeaker box that can be separated from the projector and placed under the screen: the machine thus becomes a very small wonder, very easy to keep in a closet at home, without your wife protesting! There is a cheaper version of the Braun, the Viscustic 1000, without a digital counter, with a 100 W lamp instead of 150 W one,  and without the Schneider lens.

For those filmmakers that space is not a problem,  the Mercedes Benz of Super-8 projectors with rear sprung pressure plate is the Beaulieu Studio Stereo, a French projector with a German heart, which remained in production until the nineties (with two previous versions). But I will write about the Beaulieu in other installment of this series, the one dedicate a high range projectors.

Also, in another chapter,  I will write about two other brands with rear sprung pressure plate machines:  the German Noris and the French Heurtier that, due to their importance in the world of Super-8, deserve extended chapters.

Of great interest, in the category of projectors with this type of rear sprung pressure plates, is a very well built projector in Germany, that can be bought for peanuts!, the Afga Sonector S Automatic. 

Introduced in 1969, it not only has a lamp side pressure plate, but the lens holder is of the fully swing-open type, as in the Braun Visacustic, the Elmo range or the Beaulieu. 

In addition, it uses a lamp of the same halogen lamp of many slide projectors (so, only the bulb), with its corresponding condenser lenses and mirror built-in the projector. 

This kind of lamp is very cheap (about eight euros, or even less) and it can last up to 2,000 hours. The sound level meter is really beautiful, of the "eye magic" bar type: amazing!  

The only drawback of this projector is that it only accept up to 120 meters spools.

CONCLUSION. 

Rear sprung pressure plate (in the side of the lamp) is a technical achievemet and the ideal solution for projecting Super-8 films. The reason that only a few European manufacturers have supported this great German idea is that the cost of mass production is higher. If budget is not an issue, my recommendation is to buy a Braun Visacustic 2000 Digital projector, but you can still get a great projector with rear sprung pressure plate with a small pocket, and reliable and cheap to maintain, with the Agfa Sonector S. If you are a silent man, then, the Bolex 18-5, sold in the late ´60s, could be ideal for you (available too for 8 mm).

 In this series of ten articles, a digest of the one published in the international magazine SilverGrain Classics, are described the most interesting projectors to buy, depending on the use they will be put to. 

Originally published in SilverGrain Classics

Part 1 of 10, click here

Part 2 of 10, click here

Part 3 of 10, click here

Part 4 of 10, click here

Part 5 of 10, click here