Recommendations for 16mm kinescope transfer

Hello all,
I recently acquired a 16mm kinescope of what I believe to be a lost TV show. Unfortunately it is badly warped, though I think it is salvageable by someone that knows what they are doing. I do not want to send this to someone who will screw up the job. Can any of you recommend someone who won't charge a fortune but still knows how to handle material of this vintage and condition?

I would also welcome your opinions on preservation options so that I can slow the process of its deterioration. Thanks!

 

Just curious what the show is. If it is indeed lost perhaps one of the broadcast museums can help, they transfer and give you a copy as well as return the film in exchange to keep a copy of the show in their collection?

 

The trick is, good work doesn't come cheap, and cheap work is rarely good.

I would try Paul Foster at Cine Solutions:

Paul Foster
Cine Solutions
25530 Avenue Standford - Suite #209
Valencia, CA 91355
cine-solutions-ltd
[email protected]
(661) 294-2310

See what he says. I know he's done some problematic 16mm films and managed to tame them to a point. The trick is when the emulsion becomes "cupped," which makes focusing difficult.

 

Thank you ! I will do that.

 

Where are you in Pennsylvania? Might find some assistance closer to home. And you never know who's still an engineer at a local station who used to run films back in tha day.

You're not sure if it's a lost show? Have you put the reel up on a 16mm film editor to take a look at it? That's an easy way to get a glimpse without putting the film through the potential torture of a whole projector film path and film gate...

 

Yes, firstly what is it and are you sure its rare and valuable? Before you go to a lot of time and expense, I'd love to know what it is. Secondly, depending how bad a shape its in, it may not be as daunting a task as you envision. Thirdly, I don't think that once deterioration starts, there's much that can be done to reverse the process. Fourthly and most importantly, avoid the Paley Center at all costs, unless you want the film to be donated and then misplaced and treated like garbage.

 

A) I would not know of any old timer engineers plus I'm not just gonna hand this over to anyone.
B) I don't own a film editor to view it. All of my research points to it being a lost program

 

What’s the title of the film?

 

Another scanning place you could try is OCN Digital in Connecticut:

OCN Digital Labs
100 Congress Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 441-5678
www.ocndigital.com

 

For those who asked it is an episode of a DuMont program called The Stranger, episode title The Build Up. 1954.

 

Yeah, that would sure be something worth preserving. Congratulations. Really think it's worth finding somebody (Public Library, perhaps? University Media Department? Or, university media services?) with access to an ol' skool film editor, if for nothing else, to know for sure if it's the real deal, and judge the condition of the film (and the kinescope).

Back when major-market television stations booked movies from packages out of Hollywood, they would often have a guy on-staff who was a pretty smart cookie about both the films, and the industry. In fact, one of my professors at Ball State had such a gig, for a station in Indianapolis.

Not only did guys like this have the knowledge, but they had friends who shared those passions. They took active parts in local film societies. In other words...they networked, in their own way.

I'm just bringing this up to help you find somebody close to home, who can at least help you with your questions before you ship it off to somebody a lot more expensive.

 

"A single episode (November 12, 1954) survives at the UCLA Film and Television Archive and is believed to be the sole surviving episode."

List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts - Wikipedia

 

Correct. I have read this as well and I checked their online library to confirm

 

Perhaps it’s time someone took some scuba gear down to the Upper New York Bay and looked for whatever reels are still left.

 

Thought about that but even in air tight cans, they would be destroyed by now. Besides, other than historic value, Dumont shows were all pretty bad. Maybe the only things worthwhile would be early Gleason or Kovacs stuff.

 

This is so fascinating SBC. I would love to message you with a question about this show--what an incredible find!

 

Hey SBC, I spoke with a friend who is a film archivist (for a few years he worked at the Academy Film Archive). We had some ideas about this and he is in the Northeast. I wanted to reach out and would love to chat more about this and my own interest in the material!

 

I noticed the Wikipedia page is updated to read:

"Another episode, "The Build-Up" (September 24, 1954), is known to exist in a private collection."

Very cool SBC. Good luck!

 

The film will be on YouTube within a few weeks for all to enjoy.

 

That's very cool! Send us a link when it's up. I hope they did the old film justice.

 

Trust me. With what they had to work with, they pulled a rabbit from a hat.

 

The transfer of this has since appeared on YouTube.

 

Looks to me like the film has mold and mildew damage at the end. I'd say you're lucky to even get a 1954 16mm kine to look this good in 2020.

 

A little bit of TV history was saved by your perseverance. Great job!!

 

This is so awesome, would love to hear the story of how you acquired it.