8mm Forum: Collectaholics.

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Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on August 26, 2018, 04:18 AM:

I've been watching a BBC series called 'Collectaholics', where peoples' houses have been taken over by their obsessive collecting. The programme makers help them organise their collections which sometimes involves transferring the collection elsewhere while the home is sorted out. One chap's Star Wars collection filled an entire warehouse!
Do any of you fellow 'filmaholics' have similar issues?

[ August 26, 2018, 07:03 AM: Message edited by: Allan Broadfield ]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 26, 2018, 04:58 AM:

Cant say i do Allan but it sounds like that Star Wars collector has his pension sorted [Big Grin]

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on August 26, 2018, 05:48 AM:

It could if he'd consider selling it.. It would certainly cover the funeral.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 26, 2018, 06:07 AM:

Not sure about a warehouse, but I knew of a film/projector collector who had a "lock-up" for storage.
I have films and projectors all around my house, and can I say, they are my constant companions.

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on August 26, 2018, 06:37 AM:

As we know from these columns there are plenty of fellow enthusiasts who have staggering collections, and I know of some purely by word of mouth who still store nitrate. Hopefully their neighbours don't find out the hard way!

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 26, 2018, 06:44 AM:

Maurice, i would love to see your projector collection. Which make/model do you use for your main showings?
I bet you have some real treasures there. I keep looking out for a couple of oldies purely for ornamental purpose for my film room.
Silly thing is, i use to see these sorts of things at boot sales and flea markets all the time, now i want a couple they have all vanished. I keep a beady eye on ebay but nothing has caught my eye yet other than very expensive old ones [Smile]

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on August 26, 2018, 07:07 AM:

I think many of us on here have collections which are too big, but are afraid to admit it knowing once you admit it you have to do something about it.

Graham S

Posted by Daniel D. Teoli Jr. (Member # 6043) on August 26, 2018, 07:58 AM:

My film stuff is not too bad, but my 'other stuff' took over all the free space, so the film stuff is stored in various corners of the rooms.

It does not help that all the gear is ancient and need backups to the backups and lots of projectors didn't work out. I'm cleaning out some of it slowly. Luckily my reels are mainly 200 to 400 footers with a few dozen of larger 16mm reels. I'm glad I'm not a 35mm feature film collector. (Only have 1 16mm feature.) In any case, the walkways are clear. Luckily for me my budget is limited so can't take over much more floor space.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 26, 2018, 08:09 AM:

we have already started to let a few bits and pieces go. I know our collections are nothing compared to some i have read about. We have under 600 films of various lengths but i do read about people with literally thousands. It's each to there own and if it makes people happy thats great but to have that many i cant see how most movies are viewed more than once or twice.
Ours is a slow process and i wont be selling any of our major titles but i want to get it to less than 300. I've got to an age where i just cant stand clutter or stuff lying around that never gets used, i certainly no longer want red, fading or scratched prints any more. By scratched, i'm talking about "a lot" of scratches. I can live with a few black lines here and there. [Wink]

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on August 26, 2018, 09:17 AM:

I know a film collector who has films in every room of his house from floor to ceiling,an incredible collection but I couldn't live like that plus the smell of vinegar hits you as you go in,I've asked about clearing a few many times but the answer is always the same,a big No,Mark

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 26, 2018, 10:09 AM:

Would you call that an obsession or a collection? How would you even know where a certain title it?

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on August 26, 2018, 10:19 AM:

I think when you cant find a certain title it becomes a problem, but this may not be a film problem as sometimes its the other stuff not allowing you to get to some films. Shelves are a great idea [Big Grin]

.

Graham S

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on August 26, 2018, 11:11 AM:

Definately an obsession Tom,it's a vast collection and he knows where most titles are(don't know how) a collector for 45 to 50 years so many years to amass so many films,not a surprise he lives alone really,Mark

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 26, 2018, 11:11 AM:

Tom

All my projectors are used in strict rotation to keep them going.

Perhaps my favourite 16mm are the Bell & Howell TQI, model 655QE (quartz economy) which have the ELC conversion. Heavy with the new transformers as apposed to the previous models with the A1/207 mains lamp but a beautiful machine.

My engineer at the present has two more of mine undergoing renovation and new black worms.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 26, 2018, 12:06 PM:

Mark, that is a shame that he lives alone, no doubt his films are his life and if it gives him a lot of happy hours then thats a good thing. I think i'd have a divorce on my hands if i had that sort of collection. [Big Grin]

Maurice, i was very tempted by the BB & H 655, i have seen a few on fleabay like this one here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ itm/Bell-Howell-655-TQ1-16mm-sound-projector-Tested-Working-spare-bulbs-film/123296187317?hash=item1cb50683b5:g:nA0AAOSwofdbaMyY

But because i have a variety of Len's for my Elf NT1 it would be scilly of me to venture into the B & H now unless it came with a new gear sorted and a decent 25mm or 38mm lens which is highly unlikely. [Wink]

[ August 26, 2018, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: Tom Photiou ]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 26, 2018, 02:51 PM:

Tom
That 655 is exactly what I mean. It's the QE model with its two-position lamp switch, and an ELC lamp conversion. The worm seems to be OK.
Various lenses are available, together with a zoom, and the Filmovara which screws into the main lens and so varies its focal length by 0.875 to 1.125.
At the asking price the projector does seem a bargain.

Posted by Steven J Kirk (Member # 1135) on August 30, 2018, 05:13 PM:

On collections getting out of hand I would say I have hit a red flag recently in that I have bought a film only to find I unknowingly already have it. A red flag. Done it twice. So time to find a way to organise so that doesn't happen too often. Perhaps a moment to pause and reflect.

I collect several things other than film and projectors including books, records, Blu Rays, Action Man and Scalextric too. Not forgetting reel-to-reel tapes or 'open reel' as our US cousins say...

[ August 30, 2018, 07:32 PM: Message edited by: Steven J Kirk ]

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on August 31, 2018, 01:56 PM:

Steven, have you thought of opening a museum?

Posted by Steven J Kirk (Member # 1135) on August 31, 2018, 05:02 PM:

[Big Grin]

You know I already think of it as a museum really. Certainly a museum of Audio-Visual. [Big Grin]

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on September 06, 2018, 06:48 AM:

I think there are some very discerning people on this forum. There is a difference between "collecting" and "acquiring". I've always thought collecting is acquisition with some sort of purpose or pattern, a focused activity. "Acquiring", ....that is something else. I know people who simply are , to use the words someone here on the forum used, "obsessive"--obsessive about acquiring. No pattern....no purpose ..just "get" stuff, whatever it is. Yes, maybe it's films, but that is the only criterion. It piles up everywhere and most of it never sees the light of day, much less the light of a projector.
I think for "collectors" the fun is in the hunt for that special thing. For "acquirers it's just the getting. Once gotten, it's often forgotten.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on September 06, 2018, 11:21 AM:

In accordance with Gary on this, many become obsessive over anything and will collect never to re-connect. I'm certain there are collectors who just for the shear "game" of it all, will amass hordes of items just to keep it away from the true aficionado - They likely think that having tons of items will then place them in the proverbial "catbird seat" and make a lot of cash when they actually do let go a might. As myself, I buy and trade as a specialist, acquiring certain particulars that I know are important, both historically and aesthetically, with as choice original boxes I can find as all know. Yet, I'm not the "collect-a-holic" type - My list is typed over and again until I find them, then call it a day - Now if you'll all excuse me, I must type another list...(gleeful smile) - Shorty

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