BACKGROUND INFO:
I am not a 'film enthusiast' and my past working life has revolved around electronics (many fields including communications, industrial and audio) and "The Arts", more specifically, creative arts such as handcrafted fine china, ceramics and landscape artworks.
An associate has asked me to help find new owners for HIS large collection of photographic and film items ... this is yet another one of those items. I am frequently asked "THE QUESTION"
So how many films do you have, Russ?
My response is ... boxes and boxes of them, perhaps 350+ films are now left for me to look through ... plus a few projectors
Another question I am often asked "Can I come and have a browse through the films?" Sorry, but the answer has to be a flat NO!
ALL film stock is safely away in my storage units, nice n cool and out of harms way, each day (or so) I will retrieve a few films, take a look (and smell!) at each film ... absolutely NO ONE can just casually "browse" the collection. My associate wouldn't like that and neither do I.
There is a lot of detail on this page plus even more HERE ... I strongly suggest anyone who is interested in this film to read everything carefully, including looking at the link. To not do so is at your own peril!
Vinegar Syndrome "smell test" ☑= Negative
COMEDY COMPILATION
Techno ALM, Walton Films, Republic Pictures
On this one reel there are five comedy short films, these being ...
1: Daffy Duck (Daffy Il Povero Diavolo) Daffy The Poor Devil (Techno ALM)
2: Road Runner (The Kite) (Techno ALM)
3: Laurel & Hardy (Bill Of Fare) Walton Films
4: Charlie Chaplin (Charlie The Sailor) Walton Films
5: Mysterious Dr Satan (Republic Pictures)
Full motion, silent but most with on-screen text
The last film runs the longest, about 7~8 minutes and is strange plus sort of funny corny ... this guy wears a mask which looks like a sack (low budget costumes?) Same old story, mad scientist wants to take over the world with his remote controlled robot. This film was apparently part of a series back in the 1940's and probably scared the living daylights out of people way back then! Robot taking over the world? OMG! 85 years later, we have AI
Catalogue # Unknown
400 Feet Clear KELVIN (Made in Australia) reel
NO case or box is provided, this was found packed in a paper bag only.
Leader film is fitted, but no film clip
Black & White
There is NO Sound (Silent)
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
The reel is not cracked or damaged at all
NO personal writing on the film reel with just a slip of paper giving a rough indication of the reel contents
TESTING:
Test machine: ELMO 1200ST
The projector film path has been completely cleaned prior to running this film through the machine. I now have a "running sheet", my maintenance schedule if you like - I record when each maintenance is performed because I am running a lot of films through the machine.
Film stock on the reel, including the sprocket holes, appears to be physically undamaged - I have test played almost the entire reel as I needed to view each film in the compilation.
Black & White with good contrast, varies across each film but none are terrible and all very watchable. Charlie Chaplin has slightly jerky movement, as though the film speed isn't quite right. Some Yellowish tinting to some film but nothing of concern (to me at least).
There is NO sound of any kind (even background music) so you need to read the screen prompts or text
SPECIAL NOTE: I felt I needed to add this little note ... whilst viewing the film on the screen, it actually looks "less Red" than the photographs would indicate but still ... pretty Red, there is no hiding this fact. My antiquated digital camera (very old, one of the very first 'point n shoot' models!) just isn't up to the task in regard to colour representation nor the ability to portray contrast properly. The screen shots I take are now taken with the film on pause which gives an improved image but the light is dimmer and quite blurry as it is difficult to stop the film at "just the right spot" These photographs are only a very rough guide for what to expect in any case.
This film is now stored in a cool, low humidity environment while it awaits a new owner to love and care for it!
