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Author Topic: To expand or shrink, who will take over your hobby?
Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003


 - posted August 13, 2018 03:02 PM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
First of all, please excuse me for this cross over thread, I try not to do this normally but i think this is quite a reasonable thread to get your opinions on please,

I know we are all avid collectors in this great hobby of ours. But I just wondered, we all talk about our latest additions to our collections, But, while we, in this household, are not old men just yet, we have recently taken a step back and sold off a few films, some were titles i always said i would never sell (Jaws, Assault on precinct 13 to name just two). These were sold because my last viewings were disappointed, an almost red jaws, and assault on the turn, red hue everywhere on the dark scenes. Seriously, how can you enjoy an all one colour movie, and then see it on a shinny disc in full glorious colours on the same size screen when projected?

I decided to make a list of all the titles I sold over the years and it makes a collection all of its own. Now in my mid 50s and Brother in his early 60s, we often discuss this and decided, if we never sell anything, all that will happen one day is that everything would either get sold off for bugger all or binned. I don’t want either of that to happen as we have taken 40 years to get here.
If there was no family left behind me then I would say sod it and let whoever finds it do what they want.
With so many films now starting to fade, we have made a conscientious decision to start to sell them over a slow period of time, (faded & / or scratched), I am fully aware that lots of people are happy to view faded prints, I myself am not, slight fade is one thing but mostly red or pink is another, so if we can raise some cash to replace a dozen films for one or two good colour or b/w prints then this seems to me to be a good option. At the end of the day the prices won’t stay at there loony high levels on flea bay forever. Once people dabbling in the hobby “to be retro and trendy”, begin to realise that projectors are either breaking down and no longer repairable or later in time, unavailable at all, then the prices of films will drop if there’s nothing decent around to show them on.
I am also aware that dealer prices are still very much as they should be but, (I know some of you wont like this), while we can get good prices for some films on ebay, this seems a good way to have this hobby of ours self funding. This has been what we have done for a few years now with only one or two poor experiences in over 650 items sold. I have, over the years, had poor experiences with some dealers as well, including Derann, so it isn’t restricted to ebay. Admittedly, dealers are happy to help when things do go wrong.

So I was wondering, how will you manage your collections over the coming years? Will you simply continue to buy everything, for the sake of it, select a few top titles as and when they appear, or will you down size as we will in order to make it more manageable and end up with more quality and less quantity? Or, (dare I say this), do other forms of projecting look very welcoming to you? For those of you with thousands of films I have to ask, surly you rarely get to watch the same title twice? That makes every movie viewing very expensive.
We now have 586 titles; this includes everything from trailers to full length 16mm films and everything in between. It sounds a lot but it has taken us 40 years to get here. We have only sold over the last 5 years around 75 titles, again from trailers to 16mm features and everything between. Being realistic, to view all of these and keep an eye on them is unrealistic unless you view every evening. I do actually use my projectors 5 days a week, every week. My aim over the coming years will be to half it and end up with only top titles, rare titles and non faded titles.
Your views please?

Since going into 16mm, we have just about got it right now on this gauge. I've been a good boy and kept it to well below 30, (25 to be exact) and the films we have are all but two, excellent in print, colour and sound. Quality not quantity. This low amount in numbers allows me to rotate them and look after them with ease. There are just a few more i want with one possibly coming my way once the current owner checks it through. Having said that, if good titles come up on 16 and they are theatrical prints i will gladly add these to my collection.

It will definatly be a shrinking of the collection for us, BUT, i wont stop buying decent new ones, as i said, perhaps for every 5 to 10 we sell we may hopefully add a quality product back into the collection [Wink]

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013


 - posted August 13, 2018 04:22 PM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Tom, I got your point. I have no children or nephews to make a legacy si who knows what will happen to my films and material ? I have not so far consider resell anything and don't think I will do it in a foreseable future (except maybe films of which I have two copies) but, again, who knows what life can make you do against your will. I cannot say that I'm "happy" with fadded prints but I do with them and yes, I prefer to watch a scratches/pinkish film than digital (I understand other people don't). Although, I would not buy a fadded film or a copy in too poor condition if it's advertised so. Derann low faded prints are out of my budget so, except if I can make a bargain I wil probably stick with the Derann's features I was able to buy years ago (the six months scheme payement facility, for those who remember that helped). About the prices, I insist on the fact that you can find good films at reasonnable prices at conventions, especially in the Uk. I will go at Harpenden in October and at Blackpool in November and can only advise everyone who can to do the same.But don't buy the films I want 😀

--------------------
Dominique

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006


 - posted August 13, 2018 07:55 PM      Profile for Graham Ritchie   Email Graham Ritchie   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Tom... you mention to down size in order to make it more manageable and end up with more quality less quantity, well that's how I feel also.

There comes a day when you look at all this stuff, and think, this is "NUTS" [Eek!] its going way overboard, time to get reel [Smile]

Getting rid of some and freeing up those reels to compile the better quality films onto them, for me can bring back the enjoyement of films and film projecting, than just having heaps of stuff, that over the years I have really lost track of.

When I started going through them of late, I was shocked to find that so many prints, that have by now faded, just about anything from the 70s era on Eastman, seems to gave gone, either on 8mm/16mm and 35mm which is a shame.

As to who will take over from me is a tough one, that I dont really have an answer if anyone is interested enough. I think its best to enjoy it for the day... forget tomorrow as that will come soon enough....let it be someone else problem. [Wink] [Smile]

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017


 - posted August 13, 2018 09:53 PM      Profile for Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Email Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
All of my collections,not just films but, projectors/VHS/VCRs/bits&pieces/whatnot will probably scattered to dozens of my nephew/relatives after my passing. [Frown]

OTOH just heck with that,it won't be my problem anymore then,so just let them decide what to do with these stuff. [Wink]

--------------------
Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007


 - posted August 14, 2018 06:23 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
….it won't be my problem anymore...
I think Nantawat has made a good comment.
One of my daughter's said many years ago "Dad, when you die, we'll have to get rid of all your stuff."
I replied "Do as you wish, because I won't care". [Smile]

--------------------
Maurice

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Mike Spice
Master Film Handler

Posts: 421
From: none of your business
Registered: Jun 2017


 - posted August 14, 2018 06:28 AM      Profile for Mike Spice     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I had a similar problem with my vinyl.
100's and 100's of records... I had to downsize due to the sheer space they took up.
They have followed me around for 50 years....

I think I am down to around 150 of my most treasured records.
Every thing is left to my god daughter, who can use discogs to sell what's left when I'm gone.

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted August 14, 2018 06:29 AM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
My plan is to slowly give them to my fellow-collectors who understand more than the lay-person, as it were - This won't occur right away of course [Smile] - Cheers, Shorty

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003


 - posted August 14, 2018 06:42 AM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks for the replies, (so far),
It's funny really, one of my Daughters now shows a big interest in all things 80s. She now has a record player, and loves to collect vinyl. She said she would like to keep some films and projector but is worried about looking after it all, especially if the projectors go wrong. That's now up to me to teach. However, more to the point, was the amount we have amassed over the years with many of our reels of film only going through a projector once in a blue moon. Some not at all for over 5 years. That to me, seems a waste, it will just slowly fade unless its on decent stock.
There is still some great stuff out there, especially on 16mm so we move over to the idea of slowly looking to sell off the less desirable films in order to 1/ downsize and
2/replace 10 for one quality product. Isn't it funny what your kids talk about. They make me feel like im 90 sometimes.
At the end of the day, we are not leaving the hobby, we just feel its time to get a bit reel and have a dam good sort out and get rid of quantity in order to have more quality to some of the excellent films we already have [Wink]

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005


 - posted August 14, 2018 11:11 AM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I'm with Shorty on a lot of my collection, but if I was ever to let this stuff go, (like, if I was dying), I would educate my wife on the prints values, and, so that I could give the family some more financial help after I'm gone ... have the wife sell the big dollar titles.

However, if i have kids that really want to hold onto the collection, I'd just give it to them, with dollar amounts, just in case. [Smile]

--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Chip Gelmini
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1733
From: Brooksville, FL
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted August 14, 2018 11:29 AM      Profile for Chip Gelmini     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I’m going to ask that my collection be buried with me. Gonna be very boring without movies to watch down there.......

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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016


 - posted August 14, 2018 12:08 PM      Profile for Melvin England     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurice - Make sure your daughter is aware of this forum and the main active people here. If worst ever came to worst, at least we could help her with advice and guidance through the process of selling your collection to make sure she does not get ripped off.

(Maybe this suggestion should also apply to Nantawat also..)

--------------------
"My name is for my friends!"

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Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016


 - posted August 14, 2018 04:31 PM      Profile for Will Trenfield   Email Will Trenfield   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've had my three score and ten and a bit more. I own less than 10,000 feet of film with over a third of that total being family films dating back to 1965. I have a choice of nine projectors to show them all but very few films get to be run that often. Nobody else in the family has any interest in cine. I'm with Nantawat on this one. Enjoy the hobby for as long as you can but brief whoever will have to sort out your effects as to value.

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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016


 - posted August 14, 2018 06:15 PM      Profile for Melvin England     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Will - I would have thought there was a huge gap between family home movies on 8mm and package movies.

Certainly a briefing of the value of your package movies is advisable, but I would have thought the idea of selling the family memories would be not negotiable... they stay WITH the family full stop, together with their dvd transfers. If that is not feasible,then at least donate them to your regional film archive. At least there they stay together with like minded film people and become an example of the growing up of a family in (what will become) a past era both at work and play.

--------------------
"My name is for my friends!"

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Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016


 - posted August 14, 2018 06:48 PM      Profile for Will Trenfield   Email Will Trenfield   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I totally agree, Melvin. Of course, family movies are sacrosanct just like other family records. Even if they've been transferred to DVDs, the original films need to be retained.

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted August 14, 2018 08:33 PM      Profile for Steve Klare   Email Steve Klare   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lately I've caught myself buying films and watching them maybe once and then shelving them.

I'm still going to buy, but I'm going to pass up films a lot more often.

The strange thing about our times is it's probably easier to buy films now than 30 years ago. About two years ago I bought three sitting in the waiting room at the Dentist! (they have WiFi..)

-just because you can buy one doesn't mean you must buy one.

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017


 - posted August 14, 2018 08:47 PM      Profile for Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Email Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Selling/getting rid unwanted items in your collection - that's totally fine&logical.
Selling/getting rid of your family's record (movies,stills,slides,etc.) - a big NO NO. [Eek!] Still don't understand people who put loads of their family's memories on garage sales. Did they really ignore their own family's history? [Confused]

(And to elaborate my point in previous post just a bit...)
My late father was also an avid audiophile/photographer with of course quite an collection in both fields. After his passing a few years ago,all of his collections were scattered among 3 of his children. I attained part of his camera/lens collection but none from his audio things. My brother got some camera/lens,and most of his audio collections. My sister got the rest of another bits&pieces of his other collections.
That's exactly what is going to happen to loads of my "junk",too. [Wink]

--------------------
Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted August 15, 2018 12:01 AM      Profile for Winbert Hutahaean     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Good topic Tom.

Something we always think what will be the destiny of our collection after we are gone.

I have three main collections, i.e Record/vinyls, 8mm films and Train models. My 2 sons have claimed who is going to take care films and trains, left vinyls only for me [Wink]

I am now getting into the stage of stop buying films with the thought that what I have now is enough for the entire of my life. I still occasionally buy print if the price is tempting or something to complete my eternal Tom & Jerry collection (which still needs about 8 titles more). However, on the other hand, I am not going to sell any prints (unless they are double) although they have faded. I enjoy my prints as they are and there is no any intention to upgrade.

Now regarding how to track the price of my three collections above (so my sons or wife can resell for the correct price), I have made a note in Excel sheet and save it now into cloud server (Google Drive). I can access this file from where ever I am, so my sons and my wife.

Here is the link of my note mentioned above. This is not the actual note but a copy which I will delete it later on:

My transaction note

I started writing this note since about 30 years ago. Before I just wrote in a book, now have adapted the new technology by writing with a gadget. In that note I gave the information:

- Detail of purchased item
- The bought price
- When and where did I buy it
- Who sold that to me
- Where the transaction was made (Ebay, Physical store, Fleamarket, etc)
- Contact of the seller
- Method of payment
- How the item(s) were shipped

The above note also provides the info about items that I have sold:

- When, where was sold
- How much
- Who bought the item
- How did I ship
- How did I get paid, etc

So any members of this forum who has ever had a transactions with me can check and find your name (or Ebay ID) in the above link [Wink] [Big Grin]

With that note was stored in a cloud server, as I am travelling a lot, although they are not phisically close to me but I have a felling that my collection is always with me [Razz]

cheers,

--------------------
Winbert

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Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009


 - posted August 16, 2018 12:56 AM      Profile for Bill Phelps     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
To answer the original question who will take over my hobbies with film and records no one that I'm aware of. My son has his own hobbies although we do watch films and listen to records when we hang out. No one else in my family has the same hobby. Right now I am still expanding although it has slowed down and my plan is to set up at flea markets when I retire to give me something to do and to sell off all my inventory (hobbies) so as not to burden my son with it all. If the plan doesn't work out then I guess a lot would end up being tossed. But as has been said already at that point it wouldn't be my problem anymore nor would I care. I wouldn't be here anymore!!! [Smile]

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