Jammed Cartridge

[nathan130]

I had an earlier post about my camera not being able to advance my film properly. After trying the same cartridge out in another camera, I'm starting to think it's an issue with the cartridge. I also tried advancing the film by hand a few frames and it seems very stiff (though I've never advanced another cartridge by hand so I don't have anything to compare to really).
Please tell me it's likely the cartridge that's broken and not both my cameras now? Is there any way to fix the cartridge since there's still about half the roll of unexposed film in there? I'm pretty good with my hands in the dark, so that shouldn't be a huge issue.
I saw this post and figured it might have some of the answers to my issue: http://www.filmshooting.com/index.php?o ... Itemid=154
but I'm still pretty lost.

[richard p. t.]

Hi Nathan,
Jamming happens occasionally. Often when it does it is because the film has wound poorly on the take up side of the cartridge. Sometimes this 'poor' wind is a product of the film core not being turned adequately such that the film builds up as loose film inside the cartridge. This loose film then limits the amount of space inside the cartridge and can create a situation where more film just won't go in. This doesn't sound like what has happened here. What also can happen is that the loose film is jerkily wound up on the core in a 'wonky' way, such that the successive layers of film on the core aren't cleanly one on top of the next. This results in a wind with a greater side-to-side thickness than just one piece of 8mm film. It is possible to turn such a cartridge by the core, but it is usually quite stiff. this sounds to me like what has gone on in your case. Why did it happen? I think it is a freak of physics. I don't think you can blame the cartridge 100%. Nor do I think you can blame the cameras 100%. Indeed, the second camera you used had no chance as the wind was probably already wonky I think its a combination of the cartridge, the camera, and other freak random things like the humidity or the sequence of pulling the trigger, or the angle the camera was on at some point. It is likely that the cartridge was in some way involved in the problem occuring ... but also the camera ... but I don't think you can blame either one in entirity.
The only way to keep using the film inside that cartridge now is to remove the film from the cartridge and re-load it into a re-loadable cartridge. HOWEVER if the wind is wonky on the take up side of the cartridge, you would also have to unwind that and wind it up again nicely. Personally I think I wouldn't bother. I think you have to just write off that cartridge.
I know some people will say 'it never used to be like this in the 70s!' and they are right to some extent ... and if we had a time machine we could shoot all our super 8 there ... but we don't and we have to just accept the way things are now. So try another cartridge. And try it in your second camera first.
good luck,
Richard

[nathan130]

Thanks Richard.
I guess I may give up on this cartridge as suggested. Maybe I'll think of something creative to do with the other half, the first half has some of my cousins wedding on it so I'd still like to get the roll processed.
Anyone have any fun ideas of what to do with some super-8 film being advanced by hand? Pinhole motion picture camera, maybe?

[nathan130]

oh crap.
I just tried advancing it by hand and it wouldnt budge, then the center piece started to spin freely and the film wouldnt advance. i hear a tiny rattle when i shake the cartridge.