How to Thread a Bell & Howell 8 mm Projector
- 1). Remove the cover from the projector by pressing the button on the top of the cover and tipping backward to lift off.
- 2). Raise the feed (front) and take-up (rear) arms for holding the reels by lifting into the locked position.
- 3). Attach an empty take-up reel to the rear arm by lining up the hole in the center of the reel with the sprocket on the end of the arm, then place a reel of 8mm film on the front feed arm so that the film unspools clockwise off the bottom of the reel.
- 4). Press down on the spring-loaded loop former above the projector lens and hole the loop former down with a finger while feeding the end of the film into the film threader above the front of the lens. The threader resembles two metal rollers.
- 5). Switch on the projector to the Projection setting using the control knob on the side. The film will begin to advance into the projector with a clicking sound. Do not set the control knob to Rewind.
- 6). Release the loop former once the film has advanced past it and continued into the projector.
- 7). Grip the end of the film as it emerges from the rear of the projector and guide the film below the two metal rollers, then up to the take-up reel. Turn off the projector.
- 8). Slide the film between the two sides of the take-up reel and rotate the reel clockwise until a slot appears in the spindle.
- 9). Insert the end of the film into the slot on the spindle, then rotate the reel three to four complete revolutions until there is tension on the film and it cannot unravel from the reel.
- 10
Turn on the projector to view the film, rotating the projector lens with thumb and forefinger to adjust the focus.