8mm Forum: Quality of Barry Wiles releases?

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Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on August 02, 2010, 05:51 AM:

I don't think I've ever seen a Barry Wiles release so I wondered how their print quality in general compared to DCR and others releasing similar material? I'd paticularly welcome a comment on their b/w prints as I was tempted by a copy of 'Train Time' that I've just seen on the Debonair List, although it might have gone by now.

Posted by Barry Attwood (Member # 100) on August 02, 2010, 10:15 AM:

Adrian,

I know most of there B/W releases were of very good quality, and the one or two colour releases I've seen have been quite good too (for there day, early to mid 1970's).

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on August 02, 2010, 01:18 PM:

Thanks Barry, in view of your observations I've proceeded with buying the film.

Posted by Steve Ellison (Member # 658) on October 12, 2010, 07:44 AM:

As Phoenix Films, I was the main selling agent for Barry Wiles British Transport Films, and can honestly say that they were all exceptional quality. Funnily enough, just this morning I've seen a copy of 'Snow' at an exhorbitant price on eBay...its also advertised as a 'rare' colour print the seller saying that 'most available are black and white'...in fact I don't ever remember a Black and White print being released, at least not by Barry Wiles.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on October 12, 2010, 08:39 AM:

Steve,
Thanks for your input. Could you estimate about how many BTF Barry Wiles released? I presume the company had some sort of contract with BTF, but do you know if this was at the same time as DCR, or did DCR take over after Barry Wiles stopped releasing films? I have a print of 'Snow' which I'm sure is polyester stock (which applies to many 1980s DCR prints) so I suppose DCR may have obtained some negatives from BW.

I obtained the BW print of 'Train Time' mentioned in my first post, and it's quite good, although printed a bit too dark.

Posted by Steve Ellison (Member # 658) on February 08, 2017, 11:51 AM:

...and 7 years later.....a reply for you! I've got a Barry Wiles British Transport catalogue...I'll count them for you! Promise to reply before March as well!! DCRs releases all came after Barry Wiles stopped the BT deal. Barry subsequently went on to run the actual BT Film Library but I've not heard from him for many years. Initially he was a schoolteacher in Sittingbourne.

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