8mm Forum: Silly Sentimentality Over A Reel

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Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on October 14, 2012, 11:21 AM:

My daughters were rough-housing yesterday and one of my original Chinon take-up reels was broken in the process. I've since ordered another reel, but funny how one can become sentimental over something like a reel only because I've had it for nearly 40 years. I ask you....Is this just ridiculous or what!?

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on October 14, 2012, 12:01 PM:

I never had feeling like that if the same item can still be purchased. In fact I am happy if my old stuff is replaced because it will look newer and fresher.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on October 14, 2012, 07:44 PM:

I can understand that there's some sense of loss - after all, the reel had given decades of good service and must have been associated with many happy occasions.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on October 16, 2012, 01:46 PM:

Brad,

I'm with you all the way. The first films in my collection, the projector I grew up with, my first sound camera....they're all associated with childhood memories. Whether it was buying it in the store with my parents or sharing the fun with friends there's a strong sentimental attachment.

Doug

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on October 16, 2012, 01:51 PM:

I can understand your sense of loss Brad,a way of helping with
this would be to repair the spool and put it to one side, it isn't
being used but it hasn't exactly been discarded.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on October 16, 2012, 05:45 PM:

That's Life!

Heart-breaking when you realise something you've loved and cherised for so long is suddenly gone or broken.

Makes you realise and appreciate what is still here. [Smile]

And look to the future...

Recently, we moved house and I was on the phone to my Dad, talking about films, etc. (can't imagine why, that's not like me [Big Grin]

) ...anyway, he brings up the subject of repairing the old "Craven" super 8 movie projector speaker that we had both bought together for my birthday, about 30 odd years ago, when I was about 10 years old...back in about 1980!

He thought it was a waste of his £40.00 back then I'm sure, but I wanted better sound from my 400ft copy of "Day Of The Triffids", and was quite temperamental [Roll Eyes]

, so he gave in...

When he heard it, he never really said much, but I just knew he appreciated how much better it sounded than the projector speaker, and I knew he was just as happy that it pleased me as actually fulfilling it's purpose...

Well, the many years of audio joy that thing gave so many people! Solving so many problems in screenings in big rooms for audiences (it sounds awful...oh, just bung the "Craven" in there...now it sounds fine!), 16mm screenings, etc...

Suffice to say, it was used regularly until about 18 months ago, when finally the main drive unit just gave up...
and when we moved, in all the chaos, I'd forgotten until this phone call that I'd decided that was uneconomical to repair and chucked it on the skip!

"Did you get it fixed?", he asked

Well, I was a bit dumbfounded...it was difficult enough for me to throw it, but I never thought he'd remember...

"No, I, well it wasn't worth...where did I put it in the end...
Oh, I , er, I think I decided to throw it away....."

Silence...

"Dad, you still there?"

He replies, obviously distracted by something else,
"Oh, yeah, well, I always thought your DVD stuff sounded better anyway..."

So I'm there at the end of the phone, not sure how to break this heart-rending news... with all this sentiment attached to that speaker... and he doesn't give a monkey!

Point is, the "Craven" is gone, but he is not, and for now at least, we can both laugh about it.

PS. I still miss that speaker so much though! I even remember how it smells [Eek!]

Ebay, where is Ebay........

[Wink]

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on October 16, 2012, 06:40 PM:

Great story Rob.

Thanks!

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on October 17, 2012, 02:49 AM:

Might sound a bit weird this but when I remake an old tape slice in my home movies you can sometimes still see your own finger print on the sticky side of the tape. Looking back 30 odd years they remind me what and where I was at the time I made them…

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on October 17, 2012, 06:47 AM:

On the subject of your Craven speaker Rob, I bought mine along
with the 25 watt amp in 1977 and they have given me sterling
service over the years, the speaker is used constantly and has
given many public shows.A testimony to the quality of work from
the late Mr Harry Garlick of Craven Instruments in Lancashire who
guarenteed his products for three years, well Harry they've well
and truly exceeded that.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on October 17, 2012, 06:59 AM:

Hugh. Remember Harry very well as he used to go around the country promoting his products much in the 70’s calling at Cine clubs. Those were the days!

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on October 17, 2012, 08:03 AM:

Hi Lee, I never had the pleasure of meeting the man,but his
contribution to the cine world was in making good solid reliable
equipment that can stand with the best of them, from super 8
backwinders to synchrodeks and mixers for matching up recordings and a host of other products.Manufacturers these days
could take a leaf from his book,I wonder how many gadgets of
today will still be working in thirty years time?

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on October 17, 2012, 12:34 PM:

I still have my first take-up reel. No, I don't use it. So it takes up space only for sentiment. That's true of the whole childhood movie outfit, which is functionally worthless.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on October 18, 2012, 04:06 AM:

I echo your sentiments , Hugh, with the specific exception of the "Dreaded" Craven Hum Filter! I don't know if he had his tongue in his cheek when he marketed that one. One thing it was NOT..... a Hum Filter! It was just a crude variable attenuator which reduced ALL frequencies, with a couple of capacitors in parallel to bypass the higher ones!
I have a pair of his speakers in reasonable external condition which work fine. If anyone would like to make me an acceptable offer for them I could bring them along to BFCC Ealing next week to save shipping cost?
Martin

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on October 18, 2012, 04:28 AM:

You're right there Martin,I had one for use on my S709, and found
it was a tone control, but the "hum" was still there, the 25w amp
helped a bit,but as you say the suppresor was a non starter, although at £4.00,even then, he can't have made a profit on them.The speakers were good though,no "cone rattle" at high
volume which was great.

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