BACKGROUND INFO:
I am not a ‘film enthusiast’ and my past working life has revolved around electronics (many fields including communications, industrial and audio) and “The Arts”, more specifically, creative arts such as handcrafted fine china, ceramics and landscape artworks.
An associate has asked me to help find new owners for HIS large collection of photographic and film items … this is yet another one of those items. I am frequently asked “THE QUESTION”
So how many films do you have, Russ?
My response is … boxes and boxes of them, perhaps 200+ films are now left for me to look through … plus a few projectors
Another question I am often asked “Can I come and have a browse through the films?” Sorry, but the answer has to be a flat NO!
ALL film stock is safely away in my storage units, nice n cool and out of harms way, each day (or so) I will retrieve a few films, take a look (and smell!) at each film … absolutely NO ONE can just casually “browse” the collection. My associate wouldn’t like that and neither do I.
There is a lot of detail on this page plus even more HERE … I strongly suggest anyone who is interested in this film to read everything carefully, including looking at the link. To not do so is at your own peril!
Vinegar Syndrome “smell test” = Negative
THE PLANK (1967)
Super 8
Associated London Films
Dual reels, one being a 400 foot (7 Inch) clear Unbranded plastic type and the other a larger 600 feet DASCO clear plastic reel (Made in France)
As both reels are “full”, it looks as though we have around 1000′ of film here
Plain, White boxes used to store the reels (looking a bit aged and some signs of mildew or similar on the cardboard)
Slapstick British comedy featuring a number of British actors such as Tommy Cooper and Eric Sykes, the latter also wrote and directed the motion picture.
Colour
Sound
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
Film stock and both reels are undamaged
Each reel has dynatape attached which identifies the film title and reel number.
Due to the “mildew like” marks on the outer White boxes I examined both reels carefully (and sniffed them!) for signs of powdery mildew but nothing found – the film stock looks clean so I am guessing these outer boxes were used because the owner couldn’t find anything else spare to place the reels in.
Vinegar odour was NOT detected
NO personal names or other writing on the packaging or the film reel
TESTING:
Test machine: ELMO 1200ST
Leader film is fitted and it fed into the projector no problems (sprocket holes look good and undamaged)
The film begins …
For sure, the Blues are “out to lunch” but Green has not left – yet. An overall Yellowish/Orange tinge is dominant, especially at the beginning of Reel 1 but as I viewed more of the film on Reel 1, I can see Greens appearing, particularly on the outdoor scenes. Reel 2 has the majority of film content and it does appear to have suffered more colour losses than Reel 1, at least at the beginning. The opening scenes with the Austin are clearly very Red/Pinkish with the car being a sort of Brown/Red but as Reel 2 continued, I could see some Greens but I felt to a lesser extent than on Reel 1. Blues though are just not in the picture at all.
I also noticed that the beginning of Reel 2 had what seemed to be quite a long length of Black film but finally does continue with the film.
The sound is acceptable although not brilliant. The level of audio is fine but to my ears it sounded just a little muffled, meaning that the high end response has dropped off a little.
After test playing these two reels for around 5 minutes or so each, I am satisfied that these reels do indeed contain the contents as marked and that, overall, the technical condition is reasonable after 50+ years.
After viewing, I have repacked both reels, each with a couple of packets of Silica Gel and then completely sealed within clear plastic. The two reels are then also packed (once again) within sealed clear plastic packaging.