8mm Forum: Fun with Blackhawk Boxes

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Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on December 01, 2009, 01:32 AM:

I thought it might be fun to start a thread to be used to display all of the different blackhawk boxes... I tried to take a picture of all of the different ones I have. I know for a fact there are many different Laurel and Hardy boxes and colors, what dya got? [Big Grin]

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on December 01, 2009, 09:16 AM:

Dino,

Great idea!

Now if someone could explain the Blackhawk labeling code.....

Doug

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 01, 2009, 12:45 PM:

Personally, I highly favor the late issue silver boxes

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 01, 2009, 09:16 PM:

This one's for you, Osi!

It's from the first Blackhawk I ever bought, and the only one I ever bought new: "First 500 Mile Indianapolis Race". This was also probably among the first two or three commercial prints I ever owned. This is from 1980, just before I graduated from High School.

Strange: since all the ones that came after this one were bought used, my first Blackhawk print is probably the newest of the bunch! (None of the others are in silver boxes.)

I never noticed it was printed crooked until now!

Doug:

Tim Christian explained the Blackhawk numbering system to me

First there is a 3 digit format code:

Std 8 b/w: 810
Std 8 col: 825
Sup 8 b/w: 860
Sup 8 col: 870
Sup 8 snd: 880

Then comes a two digit code he never had an explanation for. (I bet John Black can explain...).. Which seems to be by genre.

Then comes a final four digit catalog number that is by title, regardless of format.

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on December 01, 2009, 09:19 PM:

I once had a unique box, but had given it away.

On the inside part of the double box,
there was a lithographed sales promotion that
was designed with 35mm sprocket film and inside
of the frames were picts of L&H and other notable
film stars.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 01, 2009, 09:50 PM:

Like this one?

I was showing a Blackhawk 400 footer a few weeks back (not even sure which anymore) and saw this inside the box, so I grabbed the digital and snapped a picture.

I didn't know I cared that much about the boxes!

Man!, I wish I could get the Blackhawk Bulletin now!

Are you coming to New Jersey, Michael?

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on December 01, 2009, 10:00 PM:

Steve,

YES!
That's the one, and glad that you have it and posted the pict.

Unfortunately, I cannot make the convention in N.J.
Instead, I'm going to the mountains with Sugar.
[Big Grin]

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 01, 2009, 10:04 PM:

It was a minor tecnical challenge: since it's in the interior of the box I couldn't scan it.

I shall represent Long Island on my own (as far as I know!).

Posted by Thomas Stathes (Member # 235) on December 01, 2009, 10:10 PM:

Hi Steve,

I'm in Queens (geographically Long Island!) and should have a ride down there but will probably need one back to the area...let me know if you can help at all. [Wink]

I'll be bringing a box or two of 8mm/16mm silent cartoons, comedies, odds & ends and some of my DVDs.

Cartoonsonfilm@gmail.com

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on December 02, 2009, 06:46 AM:

I kept several of those advert-boxes, luckily some of the films I got contained this extra added feature - Boxes are my middle name (make your own joke), as you all know - Mike, you can do as you please, but I'm going to the convention with ME! - Shorty

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on December 02, 2009, 03:00 PM:

I once compiled here about Blackhawk generic box and some of the boxes haven't been mentioned here. Please Dino have a look at the link.

Doug, regarding the numbering system, it has also been discussed here: How we read the Blackhawk's label?. there are some more interesting infos there.

BTW, Did Blackhwak ever release a movie NOT in a generic artwork box?

cheers,

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on December 02, 2009, 03:05 PM:

OH yeah I forgot about the prevue box, and I'll have to check if I have one of those Hal Roach boxes..... I saw a number of 16mm films listed on ebay recently that were in nothing more than a white box, that had a blackhawk label on the side....

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on December 02, 2009, 06:54 PM:

Uhm...
Dino, it seems I have one not included in your pics-list.
Hope to find soon the time to take a picture of it and post it here! Funny topic, anyway.

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on December 02, 2009, 09:25 PM:

More Laurel & Hardy.

Incidentally, I have seen the Blackhawk W.C. Fields Sennett Short films:(Barber Shop & Fatal Glass of Beer) in boxes that are identical to The Finishing Touch, and From Soup to Nuts.

Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on December 03, 2009, 01:28 AM:

wow those are some great ones Michael..

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on December 03, 2009, 05:19 PM:

quote:
Mike, you can do as you please, but I'm going to the convention with ME! - Shorty

I'll get you, you Son of the Desert!

I've been collecting a long time, but I've never got any of the L&H boxes in Michael's last post.

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on December 03, 2009, 10:58 PM:

my wife wouldnt let
me go. And the Exhausted Ruler said that if... you took an oath, it
would have to be broken for... generations and... centuries of...
hundreds of years

You're not going to the mountains, you're going to the convention....., just as I said, your going to the mountains!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shorty,
Alex Bartosh once had the brown box of the boys,
and Willoughby / Peerless camera in NYC had the other boxes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on December 04, 2009, 10:10 AM:

Maybe I did have those L&H boxes once, but I sold them to a fella for solid gold (for when we get back on the gold standard). The fella was really nice -- you know what he threw in for good measure -- some nuts.

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on December 04, 2009, 09:38 PM:

Hard-Boiled-Eggs
&
Nuts!
Hmmmph!

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on December 06, 2009, 01:44 AM:

Never seen those ones before, Michael. [Eek!]

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on December 06, 2009, 10:06 AM:

Gian, Good one!

quote:
Never seen those ones before, Michael.

"D'oh!
[Big Grin]

Finlayson

quote:
The fella was really nice -- you know what he threw in for good measure -- some nuts.
Hard Boiled eggs and nuts.
[Big Grin]

Stan.

Those great lines.

[Smile]

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on April 15, 2010, 07:04 AM:

I received a Charley Chase comedy, which has L&H in cameo roles, in the pink L£H box.
Would this be the original box?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on April 15, 2010, 07:59 AM:

If the label on the box side is correct for the film, then most likely yes.

Most people wouldn't go to the trouble to peel and re-stick. Most of the few that tried would have a tough time making it look like it was always there.

I have a re-boxed L&H and the re-boxer just crossed out the old title and scribbled in the new one!

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on April 15, 2010, 08:53 AM:

Unfortunately, the label is covered with one of those plastic print- yourself labels, so its not possible to read the label underneath. I have another print from the same collection which also has this plastic labelling. It does not appear to be an attempt to deliberately cover the original label - more like the previous owners cataloging system.
I just wondered why a Charley Chase comedy would be in a L&H box.
The title is ON THE WRONG TREK.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on April 15, 2010, 09:39 AM:

What do the number to the far right indicate? There seems to always be the letter 'R' just before them on the 2nd row of the label.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on April 15, 2010, 12:58 PM:

The original label is totally covered.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on April 15, 2010, 07:43 PM:

I go through the trouble of re-constructing boxes, sometimes I have to; very worn and need restoration - David Shepard explained some of the coded labels for me - WE'll talk of it at the Wildwood show

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