# I need something long and floppy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 29, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070 "2000-09-29T21:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/1 "2000-09-29T21:58:41Z")
A _power cord_! I recently picked up a Bolex M-8 projector that’s missing its cord. There’s a circular socket built into the back of the projector that’s 40mm in diameter. At the bottom os a disc of insulating material, and two prongs. The prongs are about 15mm - 20mm apart, and maybe 3mm in diameter. What I need is a plug that will fit these prongs, and will fit inside of the 40mm circular area that’s part of the projector body. I was told at an electronics store that I needed “an old Bell & Howell plug”, so I guess the configuration was fairly common at one time. Does anyone know where I can get a cord for this thing? Or at least the plug, which I can attach to a cord? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/2 "2000-09-30T00:35:16Z")
You have said the right words. Bell & Howell was the A/V Department brand of choice for a bazillion school districts, for DECADES. Call your local school district, and talk to the Administration person in charge of maintaining A/V stuff. Ask for the name of the outside vendor who provides this service. Give them a call, they will have over 250,000 of these cords in a warehouse. 🙂 Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/3 "2000-09-30T01:30:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Call your local school district, The L.A. Unified School District? That could take _years_! Aiyiyiyiyi… ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/4 "2000-09-30T01:58:34Z")
If you know how to solder and work with electronics, you could always replace the connector with something more popular, and accessible. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/5 "2000-09-30T02:43:12Z")
> [@](#): > > If you know how to solder and work with electronics, you could always replace the connector with something more popular, and accessible. I was thinking of getting some metal tubing, a cord, some PVC pipe, and a lot of epoxy and making my own plug. I figure I can solder the cord onto pieces of metal tube that will slide over the prongs. Then I’d drill some holes in an end-piece and put the tubing in. Then fill the hole thing with 5-minute epoxy. I did buy one of those 3-prong receptacles like the ones on the back of a computer. I soldered one of those onto my viewer, but it’s the same type that was originally on it. Unfortunately it won’t fit into the circular openning in the projector. My options are to make a plug, find an original-type plug, or just get a cord and tie the ends on with electrical tape (crude, but it would work). But there’s _got_ to be a plug out there somewhere! It’s possible the LAUSD has some, as Cartooniverse mentioned, but getting in touch with the right person would be difficult. And then, they probably have a policy against giving/selling stuff to private parties. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/6 "2000-09-30T03:02:15Z")
I have built several connectors using epoxi. lots of fun ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/7 "2000-09-30T04:29:26Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s possible the LAUSD has some, as Cartooniverse mentioned, but getting in touch with the right person would be difficult. And then, they probably have a policy against giving/selling stuff to private parties. But the suggestion was to ask LAUSD who _their supplier_ was (possibly a still-daunting task), not to try to get LAUSD to resell the equipment. For example, you could e-mail [this firm](http://www.pgsys.com/movieeqt.htm) and ask if they have the part or know who would. ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/8 "2000-09-30T15:13:29Z")
Have you tried Radio Shack? The Australian counterpart of radio Shack is called Tandy Electronics. They publish a catalogue each year which lists a large range of electronic components, including a comprehensive variety of plugs and sockets. The other suggestion is to contact Bell and Howell (if they still exist) to see if such a plug can still be sourced. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/9 "2000-09-30T15:40:40Z")
Most of the larger camera stores listed in photography magazines will likely have what you want. This site might also be helpful [http://www.craigcamera.com/access.htm#Bell%20&%20Howell%20Accessories](http://www.craigcamera.com/access.htm#Bell%20&%20Howell%20Accessories) ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/10 "2000-09-30T17:29:35Z")
[http://www.mendelsons.com](http://www.mendelsons.com) This place is f’in amazing… over one million square feet of junk… I’ve been there. You can buy online from their catalog at [http://www.meci.com](http://www.meci.com) If they don’t have it, it doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-something-long-and-floppy/35070/11 "2000-09-30T19:07:13Z")
Thanks for the lynx… er, links. I e-mailes **astro’s** suggestion and they don’t have it. Just e-mailed **black455’s** suggestion a minute ago. Still looking…