my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Bristol wrench

Author Topic: Bristol wrench Tim Sherman Expert Film Handler Posts: 125 From: North Ridgeville, OH, USA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 03-01-2001 02:57 PM                        Most of you who have older simplex's probably know what a bristol wrench is. i was just wondering where i could find a couple of these, the price and also what size i need for the collers to change the intermittant spocket. I called about 25 hardware stores today and not one of them had any clue what the tool was. so i am assuming this is a special tool for these machines or is just a very old type of fastener and is now obsolete. So if anyone has any info i would apprieciate it, i need to change out a couple of sprockets. Tim Sherman Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-in North Ridgeville OH ------------------ "Come on out to the drive-in and spend a night out with the stars" ME!! Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 03-01-2001 03:34 PM                     Any good electronic parts supplier (who sells tools, also) who carries Xcelite Tools should have them. Xcelite has a complete set (they are also known as "spline wrenches") in a small case under part number 99PS-60. There are 9 sizes plus a handle and an extension unit. Yes, the size you need is in that set. You can order just individual sizes from the set. The size you need is the 4-flute # 99-63. I bought my set in 1984 and it was $25 then, so I would imagine the price has gone up. Bell & Howell used Bristol set screws exculsively in their 16mm projectors and that's why I bought my set. Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-01-2001 09:37 PM                     I bought my last set at Sears. There still should be no problem finding them. John T. Mellor Film Handler Posts: 52 From: Htafield, Pennsylvania, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 03-04-2001 12:31 PM                     Tim , After you get the Bristol set screws out you can use allen socket set screws , thats what is in use now. When are you opening this season Regards , John Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-04-2001 05:53 PM                     Allen screws will work, but the hex heads are so small and allen wrenches are so cheap that the flats on the wrench and set screws will round out very easily. Then you DO have a problem. Tim Sherman Expert Film Handler Posts: 125 From: North Ridgeville, OH, USA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 03-04-2001 09:05 PM                        John im not really sure yet as to when we are opening for the season, sometime in april is all i know. oh yeah i also took a look at the shutters on the simplexes and found out that i should be able to close them up alittle bit and get alittle more light out. I think that i like that idea of changeing them to allen set screws too. ------------------ "Come on out to the drive-in and spend a night out with the stars" ME!! Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-05-2001 12:24 AM                     If you use Allen Set Screws, please be sure to use high grade. Some of the ones (especially the small ones like you would find in the outboard collar of the older Simplex Intermittant) you get at your local hardware store may be made of soft iron, and will definately strip the flats when you tighten them. Generally, I found that the hex allen screw cannot be tightened as securely as the Bristol without stripping the head and/or wrench. Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 03-05-2001 05:17 PM                     Don't even consider replacing spline screws with hex socket screws. I've been doing office machine service for 27 years. IBM used splines exclusively in all their mechanical typewriters and we found that on a really stubborn screw you can wind a spline wrench at least three turns before the wrench breaks and the screw head will rarely strip out. Try that on a hex screw. Surging the wind up really works well in breaking over tightened screws loose. Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-05-2001 07:43 PM                     Yes, Bill. Now the people know why I like Bristol screws instead of the hex heads.

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.