Building a Super 8 Cartridge

[Will2]

I know there have been efforts at this before, but I was wondering from a legal standpoint, would it be possible to copy the Super 8 cartridge design from Kodak; basically manufacture and sell them or is their patent (from 1968 or so I guess?) still valid?

Just curious; want to make sure if there was an interruption in supply if someone else could make them without buying them from Kodak.

[joelpierre]

http://www.wittner-cinetec.com/katalog/ ... _meter.php

[slashmaster]

The thing is, I've taken apart one of these cartridges before, and it looks like with a better design you could probably get 75 feet or more in the same space. So I don't think you would want to copy it exact anyway.

[aj]

I know there have been efforts at this before, but I was wondering from a legal standpoint, would it be possible to copy the Super 8 cartridge design from Kodak; basically manufacture and sell them or is their patent (from 1968 or so I guess?) still valid?

Just curious; want to make sure if there was an interruption in supply if someone else could make them without buying them from Kodak.

According to statement in the past was that the plastic-injection-casts for the things were terribly expensive.

Kahl in Germany claimed, as I recall it from a long time ago , there was a legal problem in just manufacturing the same cartridge. Apparently GKfilm still has no cartridge of their own. Reason unknown. The cinevia there is delivered in Kodaks. Wittner resells Kodaks at an up-price but these are lubed before delivery.
Kodak sells cartridges by the lot
Now and then you can find Kaccema on eBay. Even new in box. And better priced then the Wittner's

For experiments you beter find Agfa cartridges. These are easier to open and the storage side has a one flange core.

Of course slashmaster thinks he can build and improve anything where others with a solid background failed after investing 1000s of hours and lots of money. Let us see what comes up from there

[Will2]

After all these years of shooting Super 8 I've never thought about this; are the cartridges destroyed in the processing when they are opened? I mean, they aren't reusable right?

[aj]

The Kaccema are reusable by design.

Kodak and Agfa can be made into reusable if you manage to open them without wrecking them It takes some practice and is easiest on the Agfa
Now you know what to use the really old K40 for. I used to ask the cartridges back with the processed film. Maybe you could ask a lab for a few pounds of cartridges. The DIY processing one's of course stay home.

Of course it is important how they get the film out. Some crack the cartridge. Others use the intended method by design which is pulling out the film through the gate. That is what the large hole near the end of the film was for The big labs had machines which just did this pulling and winding by themselves (in the dark). These cartridges only have their unwind blocker cracked.

The new ones from Wittner (Kodak) can be reused when you tape rather glue them closed. If the tape is of a removable kind.

Early Fuji single-8 cartrdiges are taped and thus reusable.

[Scotness]

Too bad the old Supermag 400 never really got off the ground...


http://supermag400.tripod.com/


Scot

[wahiba]

Check out 3D printing!

This is technology that could produce a cartridge from a 3D drawing. I think some now use plastics that would be strong enough.

At the moment the process is slow and expensive - but remember when laser printers cost millions. It is certainly a technology that is going to make very short runs of complex items, ie a super 8 or single 8 cartridge viable.