8mm Forum: how can you tell if the film is used or new

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Topic: how can you tell if the film is used or new

Bev Dowson
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Manilla ,Ontario, Canada
Registered: May 2008

posted June 15, 2008 05:53 PM

My friend had an old box of reels. Inside there is a reel that his Dad had I.D.-ed with his name & address. We are talking 25 years ago. His Dad is gone now & we don't know whether the film has been used & needs to be developed or whether it is 'new'. When we unreel a bit...there are number stamped through it & the one side is a tan color. Any ideas ?
Thanks...Bev

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Bev Dowson

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 15, 2008 06:39 PM

Bev, if your films are on reels, they're already "developed" or processed. You need to check them out on a projector or editor.

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Joe Taffis

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Bill Brandenstein
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1632
From: California
Registered: Aug 2007

posted June 25, 2008 04:42 PM

But film that's tan on one side and black on the other is NOT processed. And Regular 8 comes on spools...

Film that's this old may be difficult to get processed, unless it's the current Kodachrome chemistry that Dwayne's Photo handles.

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 26, 2008 04:34 PM

you're right Bill, when Bev stated 25 years and on reels, I immediately thought it had to be regular 8mm or super 8 film that was processed. Shame on me for not considering it may be unprocessed regular 8mm 25' reels, but then they wouldn't be 8mm wide yet, right? [Wink]

p.s. are we sure we're talking about films and not open reel audio tapes???? [Roll Eyes]

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Joe Taffis

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Kevin Faulkner
Film God

Posts: 4071
From: Essex UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 27, 2008 02:53 PM

Unprocessed colour or B/W film will also be tan on the inside. Bev, is the other side of the film Black? If so it's probably unprocessed colour film. What width is the film 8 or 16mm?

Kev.

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GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.

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Bill Brandenstein
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1632
From: California
Registered: Aug 2007

posted June 27, 2008 04:26 PM

Bev hasn't provided an email address, hopefully she'll see this before all that film gets fogged. If's it's film at all...

Film? Recording tape? Caramel chew strips?

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Bev Dowson
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Manilla ,Ontario, Canada
Registered: May 2008

posted July 18, 2008 08:08 AM

Smarty pants about the candy strips !! Yes it is film not audio. Yes it is black on one side.

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Bev Dowson

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 18, 2008 05:40 PM

Hi Bev, it appears you have a sound film, all you need is a projector to run it, or possibly your local camera store can help - I've been collecting Super and Std 8 film shorts for years, any help, don't hesitate - Shorty

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