Does Kodak Re-use Super 8 Cartridges?

[Guest]

I don't know if anyone knows the answer to this question, but I thought I'd throw it out anyway. Does anyone know if Kodak re-uses super 8 cartridges after they have been returned for processing, or are the cartridges used once and then destroyed? Similarly, does anyone know what Dwayne's does with all of their empty super 8 cartridges?

While I've seen illustrations that diagram the inside of a super 8 cartridge, I've always wanted to take apart a super 8 cartridge to see what's inside. I don't, however, want to tear apart a perfectly good cartridge loaded with film. Does anyone know if Kodak or Dwayne's will, upon request (by writing something like "Please return cartridge" on the processing envelope), return your super 8 cartridge with the processed film?

Thanks!

[jessh]

I believe most labs use a "can-opener" of some sort to basically just rip the side of the cartridge off to remove the film. They arent reusable, and they most likely just throw them away, although I would much rather think they recycle them, does anyone know if the plastic is recyclable and if they do? I have opened up a cartridge to see whats inside, When buying old cameras on ebay you tend to get lots of really old partially shot film cartridges, I haev a couple so I ripped one open. Wouldnt really be very interesting without the film in it.

~Jess

[Jeff]

Yup, just right on the order form to Dwayne's to return the cartridge and they'l include it with the processed film. The cartridge will be all intact.

What I think they do is, they pull the film out, instead of taking it apart, because the cartridge I got back looks new, without the film, of course.

Jeffery

[Guest]

"What I think they do is, they pull the film out, instead of taking it apart..."

Hmm...this brings up another interesting point. I thought that it was better to open the cartridge to remove the film instead of pulling it out. Pulling out the film can sometimes scratch the film and leave those beautiful dark vertical lines on the film that I'm sure all of us have experienced now and then. Does anyone know if Kodak opens up cartridges to remove the film, or do they pull out the film as well? Since film scratching can result from pulling the film out of the cartridge, I'm a little surprised that processing facilities aren't instead opening up the cartridges to remove the film.

[wahiba]

The cartridges are a pain to open and it is better to pull the film out. If it is going to be scratched on the way out then it would also be scratched during filming.

They are not reuseable as they need to be force turned a bit before the film can be removed.

The Russians make/made reuseable super-8 cartridges but seem difficult to source. My two came with the cine camera and I intend to get some double super-8, split it and load it.

Evidently it is a good idea to use 10m rather than the full 15m to alleviate any potential feed problems. This is the same as the original 9.5 and standard-8 chargers that were once made.

Single-8 cartridges are evidently easier to reload if spliced to lengths of the original film at either end. 10m is esential then as Fuji single-8 is on a thinner base.

Much of this was collected from this forum. It is the best source of information on all home movies topics.

[nik-super8]

The Kodak Lab in Renens, Switzerland does not open the cartridges.
The Super 8 cartridge was designed for machine processing by Kodak.
Therefore the K-40 cartridge has a film type processing notch. This notch is intended to prevent the mixing of different stocks at the processing lab.
That means the film is removed from the cartridge by a special machine.
This machine removes the film through the apature gate by depressing the pressure plate of the cartridge. Then the removed film is spliced together on a big reel for the processor.
This technique is a bit critical because it can cause emulsion scratches if it is not applied properly. (Kodak`s "Blue line").
But you have to keep in mind that this is the only economical technique to process a huge number of cartridges today and in the past when sales numbers were millions of cartridges.
Only independent labs processing the Plus-X / Tri-X / VNF 7240 or Vision 200 cartridges in smaller numbers open the cartridges by hand with special openers. They open the back side of the cartridge to remove the take-up core.

Niklas

[Gary Rasmusson]

I have a small supply of the Russian Reloadable Cartridges if anyone is
interested.
Please e-mail me at: GaryFVS@aol.com

[Maurizio Di Cintio]

Yeah, NikSuper 8 is right. Kodak doesn't open cartridges in Renens AND it is possible to have them returned with the processed film. I asked for this several times when the "jittery problem" used to occur, just in case I might have got some unsteady footage. In that case I would have notified KOdak about the problem and let them have both the film and the cratridge it had been shot in, plus the batch No.

Anyhow FYI the cartridge features a winding spool lock system which prevents any film slack after it has been exposed and wound. Because of it film cannot be pulled back from the cartridge as it is. The lab has, therefore, to make a small hole in a very preceise point of the cartridge. The tool which is then inserted into it, defeats the lock system and the winding core is free to rotate in reverse to let the film be pulled out.

BTW I opened several empty certridges after they were returned to me, to compare the 'old' jittery ones to the new version without the problem. The only difference seems to be the circular plastic "tray" the raw film is laid on before the filming aperture: in the jittery cartridges it is visibly thicker and less free to rotate: probably that was the problem.