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Author Topic: Pinedean Films
Terry Sills
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012


 - posted September 03, 2015 12:07 PM      Profile for Terry Sills     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Has anyone seen or heard from Wally Smith of Pinedean lately? I visited his premises in Southampton years ago - a real eye opener. I have never seen such a collection of films and projectors, of all gauges. His house,garage and outbuildings were stacked with all things Cine. Is he still in business? He was no spring chicken when I met him last, must be 15yrs ago. I never see Pinedean advertised these days.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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


 - posted September 03, 2015 12:19 PM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Wally inherited Pinedene Films from his late father. I understand that he is in very poor health.

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Maurice

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Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted September 03, 2015 12:24 PM      Profile for Mike Newell   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I actually thought he was deceased for a number of years. Mr Smith must be close or over 100.

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Tom Photiou
Film God

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


 - posted September 04, 2015 06:43 AM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
They still advertise in Phils mag, does this mean they are not in business?

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Kevin Clark
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 978
From: Bapchild, Kent, UK
Registered: May 2004


 - posted September 05, 2015 04:44 AM      Profile for Kevin Clark     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I sincerely hope Wally is still live and kicking and fully compos mentis as I have a £65 Pinedene credit note I've been trying to use up for years - will send for his latest lists today and let you know how I get on.

Kevin

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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


 - posted September 05, 2015 05:01 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have had an update from a Southampton collector.
Pinedene are still operating although Wally is now confined to a wheel-chair.
A couple of his friends visit regularly to help in clearing his stock of films.

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Maurice

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Terry Sills
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012


 - posted September 05, 2015 09:14 AM      Profile for Terry Sills     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Great to hear that he is still going. A real hardheaded character to do business with. You'd be lucky to strike a bargain price, but who knows - perhaps he's mellowed with age?

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008


 - posted September 05, 2015 11:17 AM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I remember it was a father and son team in later years. I bought films there in the 1980s and it was the father mostly. I can't remember the first names only the surname was Smith. So is Wally the Son? I spoke to the son at the 2007 Ealing and he was alive and well then, don't know about the father. That's the info I have...

I believe it is spelled Pinedene.

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted September 05, 2015 12:16 PM      Profile for Mike Newell   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I think Pinedene as a company effectively closed around 2012. If they are still operating in some form they are selling off the remaining stock which from eyewitness accounts is like an Aladdin's cave of all formats.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted September 05, 2015 03:09 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Another then that sadly now has closed its doors again for the final time.
Not many left at all now unfortunately [Frown]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Clyde Miles
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 205
From: Bromsgrove, UK
Registered: Nov 2013


 - posted September 05, 2015 05:03 PM      Profile for Clyde Miles     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
i use to his film lists, but there were never any features for sale

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Terry Sills
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012


 - posted September 05, 2015 05:12 PM      Profile for Terry Sills     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
From what I understand Wallys father sold off some waterfront property in Southampton to a developer for a handsome profit which in part funded the accumulation of the extensive cine collection of Pinedene Films. As Maurice rightly says Wally inherited the estate from his father and it seems there are no descendants living, or willing, to carry on the business from Wally. I have seen first hand the collection of film and equipment and it is a veritable Alladins cave and I just hope that it is sold off while Wally is still in charge, rather than dumped when he is no longer able to continue, which would be a terrible loss to the cine community and future generations at large.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted September 05, 2015 05:18 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
I sincerely hope so too Terry.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008


 - posted September 07, 2015 04:05 AM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Sad to hear that the son is now using a wheelchair. I went in there many times in the earlier days of the hobby for me ( late 70s, early 80s ) and it was certainly an Aladdin's Cave. The father bought and sold at set prices so a reel of col sound was the same price whatever the subject. You could pick up a great title as I did when I got a nice 16mm print of the feature SCANNERS for £90, a few years ago mind, and I still have it. Even the colour is still good. But he wasn't so good to sell to of course because he wouldn't budge from a set price even for a classic.

The post above is right in saying they also owned a boatyard for many years and sold it to developers where it is now a large apartment building.

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted September 07, 2015 06:39 AM      Profile for Mike Newell   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I know he had a fixed rate for each reel size. I sold him my copy of The Rose with a bundle of other movies.Bit of a cheeek considering I had it thrown at me for free. I think I sent the Perry's complimentary copy there as well number 3684 that appeared on Ian's list for 23 years. Plain white box no identification marks on each occasion [Cool] So be warned They are out there!!!

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